Football Manager 26 is almost here — and if you’re planning your first save in Italy, you’re spoiled for choice. From fallen giants to modern rebuilds, Calcio is full of stories waiting to be written.
Whether you want a romantic lower-league project or a tactical Serie A test, here are 10 of the best Italian FM26 challenges to kick off your career.
1. Pro Vercelli – Return of the Originals
When football in Italy was still amateur, regional teams mixed with the big boys. Before Juventus or Milan, there was Pro Vercelli — seven-time Italian champions before the First World War.
Now buried in Serie C, they’re the ultimate “fallen giant” challenge. Can you restore the bianchi to their rightful place at the top of Italian football? They were the first to recognise the importance of a good youth academy, you’ll need yours to rebuild this empire!
A romantic, pure Calcio rebuild.
2. Parma – Back to the Glory Days
The club that gave us Buffon, Crespo, Thuram, and Cannavaro… and then collapsed under accusations of massive fraud!
Your goal? Easy… Rebuild the 90s magic at the Stadio Ennio Tardini and bring European nights and domestic trophies back to Parma.
I’ve done it again! Italian football travel man strikes! Inter Milan v Como 1907 at the San Siro, no time off work required, £175 all in. Just waiting for @Ryanair to steal this and post about it 🙄 #fyp#travel#sansiro#inter#calcio @Inter @Como Football Club @Lega Serie A @AngloItalianPod @theitaliansoccerreport @Rino Zaurrini @Luke talks Calcio 🇮🇹⚽️ @Destination Calcio @globalgroundhopper
Few clubs mix passion and personality like Palermo. Now back in Serie B with strong backing, the foundations are there — can you turn the rosanero into southern Italy’s biggest powerhouse?
The club previously uncovered South American gems such as Paulo Dybala, Edinson Cavani and Javier Pastore so get your scouts across to that continent to help your rebuild.
A Sicilian story worth telling.
4. Venezia – The Floating Project
One of world football’s most beautiful clubs — and one of its strangest. The city of canals, fashion, and chaos gives us the best looking kits every time.
Can you build a sustainable Serie A side in Venice while keeping the flair that makes them special?
Beauty and pragmatism collide.
5. Catania – Rise from the Ashes
Financial ruin couldn’t kill Catania’s spirit. They’ve climbed back to Serie C — and the Sicilian derby with Palermo is waiting for your return. Challenge Palermo’s island dominance before challenging Napoli to be kings of the South.
Rebuild, reignite, and reclaim the island.
6. Atalanta – From Underdogs to Empire
Gasperini’s former side have become the model of modern football: smart scouting, tactical flexibility, and flair.
You’ve seen them win the Europa League, can you bag them the big prize?
A masterclass challenge for tactical purists.
7. Bari – The Southern Sleeping Giant
A massive club stuck outside the top flight for too long. With a loyal fanbase and a modern stadium, Bari have everything except success.
Can you bring Serie A football back to Puglia — and maybe a Scudetto with it?
A long-term project with real potential.
8. Fiorentina – Purple Renaissance
A club with history, identity, and heartbreak.
Your mission: deliver their first Serie A title since 1969 and restore the pride of Florence.
Can you make La Viola beautiful and ruthless?
Romantic football meets real pressure.
9. Sampdoria – The Marassi Miracle
From Vialli and Mancini to Serie B despair — it’s been a long fall, much to the amusement of city rivals Genoa.
Bring back the swagger of the 1991 champions and rebuild one of Italy’s most charming clubs.
Genova’s blue half needs a saviour.
10. Como – Money, Lake Views, and Ambition
Scenic lakeside views, celebrity owners, and serious ambition.
With Cesc Fàbregas behind the scenes and investment flowing in, can you turn Como’s glamour into silverware?
Luxury meets legacy.
⚽ Bonus Challenges
Modena – rebuild Emilia’s pride.
Cesena – return a beloved name to the top.
Napoli – defend your crown
Inter – finally secure the Champions League title
Final Word
Football Manager 26 will introduce a new engine, a fresh matchday look, and the long-awaited arrival of women’s football. But some things never change — Italy remains one of the most rewarding and romantic places to manage.
From Pro Vercelli’s dusty trophy cabinet to Como’s modern ambitions, there’s a story for every kind of player.
So you’ve made it this far, you’ve decided you’re going to Milan to watch football. That’s great, you’ve made a fantastic choice. Not only are there two Serie A teams based there, the stadium they share is the most iconic in World football. There’s plenty of other options too, if you want to squeeze as much out of the trip as you can. Flights are cheap from London to Milan and there’s plenty of them available. So here’s the ultimate football fans guide to hanging out in Milan.
Getting Around
Couldn’t be easier in Milan. Depending on your airport there’s a few ways into town. From Malpensa just get on the train that goes from each terminal. They terminate at Centrale, but go through Porta Garibaldi too which is another of the main stations. Tickets are available at the kiosks in the terminal and the station, the machines change languages to make it easier. The train takes around 45 minutes and costs roughly €15.
If you’ve come in to Bergamo then you’re best bet is to take one of the coaches to Milan Centrale. For €10 you get 45-60 minutes sat on an air conditioned coach straight into the centre of Milan. You can also take a bus to Bergamo station, then an hour long train to Milan if you prefer but the coaches are easy enough. You can either pre-purchase tickets in the terminal or buy from the guys at each bus stop.
Taxis are available at both airports but cost around €150 each way to Milan, so I wouldn’t waste my time with them. There is a third airport, Linate, which is a bit like London City. Congratulations if you’ve landed here, you’re rich and flew BA. It’s on the main Metro network in Milan so very easy to the city centre from there.
Trams are clean, tidy and on time… mostly.
Speaking of the Metro, Milan has a really easy to use Metro system. It has 5 lines that all cross over with each other and connect to the vast Tram network too. You can buy an adult three day ticket for around €15 so getting around is so easy and so cheap. Just be a bit careful if visiting before the end of October, there’s major work being done to the tram lines so they’re running slightly odd routes at the moment.
The Metro is clean, well lit and efficient, used by everybody in Milan, it’s a safe and cheap way to get around the city.
Eating and Drinking
So the first thing to highlight is that Milan is really not a “party city” like places such as Prague, Budapest etc. but you can still have a pretty decent night out here. I would head to Isola where there’s a much younger vibe and the bars will be lively and loud. In the summer you can drink just about anywhere that has outside seating and have a nice chilled evening.
Speaking of chilled, in the evening before your meal, get to Navigli. The canal area is served by the M2 at Porta Genova station, and the canals are lined with bars and locals enjoying an aperativo before their dinner. Later at night this becomes a busy and very “cool” area.
Navigli is very chilled in the daytime, and comes alive at night.
Nightlife-wise, head down to Piazza Duomo after dinner. There’s some good clubs and bars in the vicinity of the Duomo, but be expected to pay a little more. More to the point, in the Piazza there will be crowds of people hanging out after a few beers, enjoying the night time views of the Duomo listening to street musicians, very nice vibes.
For food, you can’t really go wrong, this is Italy after all. However, one place we ALWAYS stop by in Milan is Piz! on Via Torino. The pizza place is a short walk from the Duomo and you should get a free glass of Prosecco while you wait as well as a limoncello to finish. The pizza menu consists of two pizzas and one “surprise” pizza. They won’t tell you what it is before it’s served, but you can tell them what you don’t want it to contain!
It’s ridiculously cheap for its quality and location, a plain margherita pizza will set you back around €9 – and it’s massive. Bring your football stickers, downstairs the walls are covered with them.
Piz!
The best advice on eating in Milan is to look a bit further than the end of your nose. If you like Italian food you can’t go wrong in Italy! Avoid eating in any of the major squares and Piazzas, if they have pictures of the food outside the restaurant it’s a red flag. If they have someone stood outside trying to get you in, it’s a red flag. Turn down the side streets, find the little family run place, it’ll be incredible.
It might seem an odd recommendation but if you like Indian there’s a great place near the San Siro which is smashing after a few beers at the football. Take the number 16 tram from the stadium to Via Dolci Via Ricciarelli and you’ll see it in front of you, Namaste Indian Restaurant. It says on Google it’s open until 10:30pm but I think that’s last entry because I’ve been in there after a 9pm kick off before! I know, you should be eating Italian food in Italy but it’s really convenient post match, open late and to be honest, is fantastic food.
Breakfasts are easy enough, again, look for any small family run cafe (there’s millions) and set yourself up with a Cappuccino and a pastry of some sort to experience an Italian breakfast like a true local. I don’t think I’ve ever paid more than €10 for this breakfast in Milan.
Football
So if you’re going to Milan to watch football, you’re probably going to the San Siro to see either Inter or AC. But there’s a million other options that are so convenient. Before we go into that, here’s some advice on doing a San Siro tour. Firstly, definitely do it, it’s well worth it. But secondly, be aware that you can’t do it the day of or the day before a match. The day after I think it’s open, but you won’t be able to get in there on match day or the day before.
So to the other teams, you want a full on Calcio weekender? Can’t go wrong in Milan. Starting in the city of Milan itself, as well as Inter and AC, you have several Serie C teams. Alcione Milan, Inter U23 and Giana Erminio all call Milan home. Well, Giana actually play in Gorgonzola (yes the cheese place), but it’s on the Milan metro at the very end of M2 line.
AS Giani Erminio
Slightly further afield in Serie C you have Lecco (1 hour train) with spectacular views over Lake Como and the mountains from the stadium. In Serie B you have Monza (20 minutes train) and Mantova (1 hour train) all local to Milan and then, of course, in Serie A you also have Como (45 minutes train) up the road. You also have Atalanta playing in Bergamo which is accessed by around 45 minutes from Milan. Interested in Jamie Vardy? Cremonese play in Cremona around an hour’s train from Milan.
You can also end up in Switzerland watching football, I’ve done it before, the train to Chiasso takes around 1 hour from Milan and from there you can either watch Chiasso or SC Balerna if you want to squeeze two countries into your trip.
If you want my recommendation, the trip to Switzerland is good, but be aware of train times, an evening kick off rather than night game is as late as you want to be there. I’ve been to Como and Lecco to watch matches. Both are on different shores of Lake Como and both spectacular. However, you’ll probably struggle for Como tickets and the price of food and drink there isn’t smashing. Lecco offers the same beautiful backdrop while being a more affordable alternative. The town is still really nice and you can have a sunset beer by the lake before walking up to the ground. They also have lively ultras so the atmosphere will be more what you’re looking for.
Lecco
Other than that, Bergamo is beautiful too, but I’d recommend giving that and Atalanta their own trip rather than squeezing it into a Milan trip. I went to Gorgonzola to see Giani Erminia, the stadium is small and quaint, the town quiet but it’s worth a little trip out if you’re a fan of cheese.
Day Trips
We’ve sort of already covered it above with the football but if you’ve had your fill of Milan (and in truth you can see what you need to in two days) then head out of town for a day. Como and Lecco are again going to be two of the more popular choices, given the lake and the beauty of it. However, if you can find your way to Bellagio in between the two you’ll have uncovered a hidden gem. It’s not the easiest accessed place, which is how it remains so uniquely Italian, but it’s accessible the easiest by boat from Como or Varenna.
If walking up hills is more your thing, you need to hit Bergamo. The city is split into the upper city and lower city. And you’ll see why when you’re there. There is a funicular train that goes up to the upper city and that’s where the best food and drink and sights are. It’s a much more chilled and cheaper version of Milan and is a great place to spend the day with less people surrounding you. The train here is around 45 minutes from Milan and costs €6.
What to do in Milan
When you’re actually in Milan if you’re looking for a bit of culture or something to do other than football and drinking, then your next best bet is shopping. Milan is the fashion capital of the World and you’ll find every single designers flagship store here. Head to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Piazza Duomo to marvel at clothes you can’t afford. The Ferrari store is cool if you like large F1 cars hanging from a ceiling.
Ferrari store Milano
Around here as well you’ll find more reasonably priced designers behind the Duomo and down Via Torino is your normal high street brands. My daughter tells me that something called Kiko Milano is around half the price in Milan that it is in the UK so if you have girls, stop off and get a gift!
Other than shopping, history is everywhere in Italy and Milan is no different. Firstly, in the Duomo, a spectacular old cathedral the interior is absolutely magnificent. But as well as going inside, you can go on top of it. The Duomo rooftop gives great views of the Piazza below and most of Milan, take the lift though, it’s worth the extra few euros!
Duomo rooftop
Brera is the neighbourhood to go to if you like things a little trendier than historic. Great food options here as well as nice buildings for a walk around. You can get here on the M2 to Moscova station. Isola as mentioned above is a cooler neighbourhood nearby, think East London. the Bosco Verticale buildings that split the neighbourhoods are worth a quick photo.
If religious artwork is your thing, The Last Supper fresco by Leonardo Da Vinci is at the Santa Maria Della Grazie church near Sant Agostino station. You want to see this, you need to book early. Tickets are released on a monthly basis and go immediately. So much so that after 8 trips to Milan, I’ve still never seen it. Tickets then get gradually re-released so just keep an eye on the website. There’s a number of other Da Vinci themed things to do here too, like his private vineyards.
If you take Via Dante from the Piazza Duomo and walk around ten minutes (plenty of watering holes to break this up) then you’ll end up by the largest Inter Store, but more importantly there’s a big castle and large open air park at the top there. Perfect for a romantic stroll and some Instagrammable pics if you’re combining the football with a trip for the other half!
See if you can spot the flamingos kept in a private garden in the “posh end” of Milan too. Head to Palastro on the Metro and walk to Via Cappuccini, they’re just sat there grazing in a garden there. Quite bizarre.
That’s really it, like I’ve mentioned before, Milan isn’t a party city, nor is it a particularly busy city for tourist attractions. Milan is there to self indulge. The food and drink is great, the shopping is wonderful and the football is the heartbeat. It’s a city I’ve been to many times and each time I come back much more refreshed than when I went, which isn’t true of a lot of city breaks.
Take some time for yourself, do a bit of shopping, a bit of sight seeing, then eat some great food and sip on a cold beer and watch the world go by. All before taking in a match at the San Siro.
Casual football fan? Love football but don’t follow it in Italy? Italy fan but not following football? There’s many reasons you might have for wanting to choose a Serie A team to follow this season, and with the season just 2 days away, here’s your guide to selecting what team to follow from now on in Italy’s top tier…
Atalanta
Were you a fan of Southampton’s feel good relegation? Where they just about avoided being the worst team in Premier League history? Well have a guess where the manager Ivan Juric is now… That’s right folks, Ivan Juric is in charge in Bergamo and all set to dazzle us. He was sacked from Roma last season too by the way, so don’t expect brilliant football or even results. Star man Ademola Lookman is on strike because he wasn’t allowed to go to Inter.
Atalanta did win the Europa League a couple of years back but that team is largely broken up now. You should follow Atalanta if you’re a fan of “almost” teams, given their propensity to threaten a title challenge without ever delivering. But they play in Bergamo, a beautiful city with an airport serviced by Ryanair from London for not a lot of money. Ideal for a quick weekend jaunt… Oh, and their away kit is magnificent.
Bologna
Bolognese fan? Then this is your team! But seriously, after their charge to the Champions League a few years ago people know a bit more about this lot. They then promptly lost the best players who got them there. Consider them the Aston Villa/Newcastle of Italy. They’re decent, will take points off the big boys here and there, but then the big boys will take their best players after a Top 6 finish.
Again, lovely city, great food, cheap flights from London. The kit’s alright too…
Cagliari
Ah the islanders… Cagliari is on Sardinia so it’s by the sea and often bathed in sunshine. If that’s your sort of thing then this article reached somewhere other than England. If you’re a fan of telling everyone about the legendary players that were produced at your club throughout history then this is your team. Current Azzurri star Nicolo Barella started here, right through to Azzurri legend Gigi Riva. Ramon Vega and Gianfranco Zola also played here. They’ll be in a relegation scrap for most of the season so only those with no heart conditions please…
Como
Billionaire? Film Star? Model? Then look no further. The richest club in Italy, probably top ten in the World, on the banks of the beautiful Lake Como. Italy’s Monte Carlo are stamping their authority on the league with a dynamic young coaching staff and even more dynamic and young players. They finished 10th last season and are eyeing Europe this time around. And if you go over there, you’ll definitely see someone famous in the stands. This is the team for you if you holiday in Dubai just to be seen. Get behind their project or don’t bother!
Cremonese
Remember when Bolton were in the Premier League? Enjoyed it? Then this is your team. Sneaking up thanks to a play off win over Spezia, managed by Italy’s answer to Big Sam – Davide Nicola. He has a phenomenal record of keeping teams up, having never been relegated despite several looking nailed on when he took over.
Cremonese beat Derby County in the 1993 Anglo Italian cup final. And further back in their history, they once had Italy’s best goalkeeper but Giovanni Zini lost his life in World War I and the stadium was named after him. Speaking of famous wartime names, Mussolini’s great-grandson plays here so if you’ve just signed up to Jeremy Corbyn’s new party, this might not be your team.
Don’t hold that against Romano Floriani Mussolini, he’s just here to play, his great-aunt is Sophia Loren, if that endears the Mussolini name any more?
They won’t be pretty, but they’ll be functional. Fans of Sean Dyche’s Everton great escapes and general underdogs, this is your team. Get stuck in with them!
Fiorentina
Nintendo fans of the World unite! The iconic 90s Fiorentina shirt sponsored by Nintendo makes this the team for the gamers. Europe’s nearly men, losing two Europa Conference finals in a row before losing a semi final a year later. Read any Dan Brown books? If so then most of what he talks about happened in Florence. Or maybe you’re a fan of viral sandwich shops, All’Antico Vinaio is here… Or maybe you just really like purple.
Fiorentina have had some great players pass through the doors including Gabriel Batistuta, they currently have the number one Italy striker Moise Kean and are perennial challengers for a European place. Man Utd fans would be pleased to see David De Gea enjoying a new lease of life here.
Genoa
English Calcio fans should be all over this one then. Genoa were founded by an English guy and are still called the Genoa Cricket and Football Club. Not only that but they have released a simply MAGNIFICENT away strip this season which is essentially a large St George’s Cross.
Do you need any other reason to support them? Ok well they were the first ever champions of Italy. In fact they won 6 of the first 7 Italian Championships. Oh, and Arsenal fans take note, Patrick Vieira is their manager. No brainer for the patriotic English Calcio fan.
Hellas Verona
What do you want me to say? I don’t think anyone in Italy even knows too much about Hellas Verona. I mean, Verona is a beautiful place, if you’re a fan of Shakespeare then you might know that Romeo and Juliet was set here. Ok then, there you go, if you’re a fan of nice cities, romance and need to take the Mrs on a romantic trip, be a Verona fan. You’ll get some brownie points by taking her here and you can see some football. If you are a woman, then just tell your man you want to go watch Verona, we do whatever women want mostly.
Inter
Only those with the highest footballing IQ. Alright fine, I’ll put my bias away. Fan of nearly being great but throwing it away at the last moment? Support Inter. Amazingly, Inter have the second most amount of titles in Italian history and are the second most successful team in European competition from Italy. They came second twice in the league in the last 4 years, came second in the Supercoppa and Champions League last season.
So there you have it, if you like a team that’s quite good but you don’t want to be an all out glory hunter, Inter Milan is the team for you. Some other reasons why I like them – cheap flights from London to Milan daily, easy to get tickets, iconic stadium, iconic kits, R9.
Juventus
Ok, now I need to keep my bias aside and not be horrible about Juventus. By far the most successful team in Italian domestic history. If you choose to overlook things like the Calciopoli scandal in which they were relegated then good for you. To be fair, during this time some true legends were born at the club when the likes of Buffon and Del Piero stayed despite their relegation.
Some of the World’s all time greats graced the turf in Turin, with Zidane, Nedved, Platini, Buffon, Henry, Del Piero and Pirlo all plying their trade in Northern Italy for a time. Support if you like Man City, successful but always with that whiff of “is this legal” about it…
Lazio
Romanticists for the early noughties “Calcio is king” era will remember their great Sven inspired team winning the Scudetto and UEFA Cup Winners Cup. The classic kits from that era worn by Vieri, Mancini, Nedved, Salas and Nesta are enough to inspire nostalgia in anyone.
Be careful going to Lazio games if you’re not a fan of very right wing politics though, their Ultras are… feisty… and one of the most famous images of Paolo Di Canio is from this school. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, Google him, it’s like the 5th image. But this isn’t a political blog and I don’t really care about that, so head to Lazio if you like blue shirts, moderately successful nostalgia and you’re in Rome.
Lecce
Lecce lost a pre-season friendly to the United Arab Emirates national team. In 1976 they beat Scarborough in the final of the Anglo-Italian Cup. Antonio Conte and Graziano Pelle came through their youth academy to make it big (and fairly big). Yellow and Red stripes on their kit makes them a little hard to watch (personally) but they play their home games in Lecce, which is in the heel of the boot of Italy, which is gorgeous. So if there’s a chance of you doing some tourist stuff there, adopt them now as your team and end up at their games.
I expect they’ll be heavily in the relegation battle this season (again), so if you’re an underdog follower then get at it! Also, their left back is Irish, Corrie Ndaba has just moved to Lecce from Kilmarnock.
Milan
Hungry for more nostalgia? Milan had a bloody brilliant squad in the noughties. They had a few before that too, the 80/90s were magnificent there too, but for people of my vintage that team that Liverpool somehow beat in 2005 was ridiculous. Crespo, Shevchenko, Kaka, Pirlo, Seedorf, Maldini, Nesta, Cafu.. the list goes on.
Italy’s most successful team in Europe by some distance, and the third most successful domestically. Last season was a bit of a joke, but they’ve made smart moves this summer and I expect they’ll surprise a few people. American? Yunus Musah and Christian Pulisic are here. General fan of beautiful football? Luka Modric is now here.
Truth is, if you aren’t already supporting Milan then you’re probably not going to now, but if you want to jump in to Italian football, this is one of the giants of the game, support them and you’ll get to celebrate trophies.
Napoli
Glory Hunter? They’re the current defending champions. Other than that, this is where pizza was apparently invented. Neapolitan pizza is still famous around the World and definitely did come from here.
If you’re English, probably not the team for you, Diego Maradona is a God here and the stadium is still named after him and we don’t like him after that time he cheated in 1986. However, if you’re a fan of pure, all out passion, then you can’t go wrong here. Scots will love it since Ballon D’Or nominee Scott McTominay is on his way to legend status here, and that whole Maradona connection.
Home to three beautiful kits this season, as well as Kevin De Bruyne and managed by Antonio Conte, there’s a lot to like in Naples. I just don’t because I’m an English Inter fan.
Parma
Love Oasis? Wear bucket hats? Right on board this 90s nostalgia train that’s coursing through the World right now? Then come to Parma. Not only will you be well fed with cheese and ham, but the 90s nostalgia is big here! UEFA Cup winners in 1995 and 1999, Cup Winners Cup winners in 1993, Super Cup winners in 1994, Coppa Italia winners in 1992 and 1999 and Serie A runners up in 1997. This club craves the 90s more than your Dad at the Oasis reunion.
There’s a whole history to this team, including their bankruptcy and revival in the noughties. Read that here.
Another one for underdog fans here. Or fans of towers built incorrectly. Pisa stormed through Serie B for most of last season before stumbling over the line in second. Their manager then promptly left for more money elsewhere. Yes, Pippo Inzaghi replicated his brother in leaving his club at the end of the season. They haven’t spent a lot, nor does anyone expect them to stay up. But strange things happen in Italy. Support them if you’re a fan of beautiful cities and lovely blue and black kits.
The fans are passionate here, so any matchday will provide a great craic.
Roma
The eternal city, the lovely retro kit, the magnificent third strip this season. There’s a lot to like about Roma this season. Ranieri left at the end of last season having rescued them from a potential relegation battle with 2 defeats in 25. He became a Director and the attack minded Gasperini is in charge here. They’ve signed Leon Bailey and Evan Ferguson from English clubs, so there’s some home interest to follow here too.
I expect they’ll shock a few people, but above all else, if you know anything about Italian football you’ll know Francesco Totti is one of the best to ever do it and he spent his whole career here. A great choice for the casual viewer to root for this season.
Sassuolo
Josh Doig moved to Italy when he was only a teenager and is about to start his 5th season over in Italy at Sassuolo, his second club there. Another reason for Scottish fans to pay an interest. Not just this though, but they launched easily the best kit this season (for me). They were perennial strugglers last time out in Serie A but having swept everyone in Serie B, I expect them to have a bit more about them this season, they’ll be down near the bottom but I don’t think they’ll go down. Sassuolo is the industrial centre of Emilia Romagna so it’s unlikely you’ll be visiting by accident, but it’s easily accessible by train from Parma or Bologna, so double match weekend could be on…
Torino
Grande Torino were one of the greatest teams in Italian history, providing 10 out of the Azzurri’s 11 players in the 40s and spending years unbeaten. They were tragically and abruptly stopped in their tracks, however, in the Superga disaster when their plane crashed and everyone on board died.
Remembered every year by pilgrimages up the mountain to the site, Torino and their fans offer a certain dignity to Italian football. One of the great teams of all time in Calcio came from Torino, and so did one of Calcio’s greatest tragedies. This is a club bursting with history and constantly threatening to challenge for Europe and some domestic trophies. See also, magnificent kits and Scottish players.
Udinese
Another team with Scottish talent. Lennon Miller has just signed here from Motherwell, a very highly regarded talent in Scottish and European football. Won the 1978 Anglo-Italian cup over Bath City. You may recognise them from early noughties European pursuits featuring Antonio Di Natale.
Fans of Black and White stripes will certainly appreciate their kit and their location in Udine near the Slovenian border will appeal to fans of the multi-country trip. Alexis Sanchez also played here for a time before Barcelona took him to Spain. Don’t expect any trees being pulled up next season, but they usually provide entertainment.
In just the past year, Italy has watched a golden generation slip through its fingers. Mateo Retegui headed to Saudi Arabia, Giovanni Leoni swapped Parma for Liverpool, Riccardo Calafiori moved abroad, and Diego Coppolla packed his bags too. They’re part of a growing list of young Italian footballers leaving Serie A in search of opportunity, money, and trust.
It’s a worrying pattern — and one that could shape the future of Italian football for decades.
The Growing Exodus
This summer Italy lost her top scorer to the Saudi Arabian league. Not such a shock that Italian teams can’t keep up with the wages in Saudi Arabia, even the Premier League struggles with that. What was alarming was that Mateo Retegui is 26 years old, and had just won the Capocannoniere (top scorer award).
Then, after Juventus, Inter and Milan were all circling the Parma prodigy Giovanni Leoni, Liverpool swooped out of nowhere and took the centre back to England. The reported fee of €40m shouldn’t really have been too beyond the three biggest clubs in Italy.
As well as this, Calafiori headed to London last summer, Diego Coppolla has chosen Brighton this summer. Some players you’ve probably never heard of that have left Italy include Samuel Pia and Luca Reggianni are both in Germany at Dortmund, Manuel Pisano went over the Alps from Turin to Munich in 2023 and Guido Della Rovere went from Cremonese to Bayern too.
Why Are They Leaving?
It depends on the player, is the shortest answer we can give here… Leoni and Calafiori undoubtedly left because there was more money on the table in England than in Italy. This financial weakness was highlighted by Luigi De Siervo (CEO, Serie A) who blamed rampant illegal streaming for severe revenue losses. He estimates this to be roughly €300m annually, which is affected the wages that Italian clubs can pay, along with stifling investment into youth development and their infrastructure.
But lower down the age groups, why are players leaving Italian Academies for Germany? There’s no real player pathway for Italian footballers to break into the first team in Serie A. Unless you’re a truly exceptional talent, the over reliance on experienced players in Italy means there’s no way to force your way into the team. Therefore, the naturally inkling is to look elsewhere. Germany has a reputation for blooding young players, even the high stakes of the English Premier League give young kids a chance from time to time.
This brings an over reliance to Serie B or Serie C teams, the standard is much lower, the development isn’t as intense and the development window for great talent is missed. Players don’t see any Serie A minutes until the age of 22. Enzo Maresca (Chelsea Manager) even pointed at this reliance on “experience” led to the demolition of Inter Milan in the 2025 Champions League final.
Carlo Nesti (veteran journalist) paints a grim picture of life in Italy for young players. Serie A has a high foreign player ratio of 50-60%, with only about 3-6% of playing time in Serie A going to Under 21 Italian players, far below peers like La Liga and the Premier League. The Italian overemphasis on tactical rigidity and defensive habits along with dwindling grassroots and street football sees a demographic decline in young Italian players making the grade.
The Cost For Italian Football
The cost of the decline in young Italian talent staying in Italy is threefold. There’s the natural risk of a weaker national team, the loss of connection between clubs and their local communities and fans being deprived of seeing their own talent grow at home.
The national team weakness is fairly self explanatory. If your best young players scatter all over Europe, then they’ll grow up in different systems and different philosophies before returning to play together. In theory, the players could flourish under these better foreign academies, with much more game time – but they’re not likely to come together on national duty with similar outlooks and tactical ideas or even capabilities.
Football has always been a community sport. The clubs have been the heart of the communities, they’ve brought the local people together under one set of colours, one badge. And the strongest link to all of these clubs has been local homegrown talent. But when that talent is being lost before they’ve set foot on the pitch, there becomes a strain on the relationship. There’s no closeness between the fans and their club. How can they cheer for strangers, not from the area who don’t “understand” their club.
How To Stop The Drain
Full disclosure, and fans of the blog will already be aware of this, but I’m no politician. And I’m certainly not involved with the FIGC in any way. But there are ways to stop this drain.
Mandating Youth inclusion is an obvious one, but not a popular one. The more money that becomes up for grabs in European competition especially, the more the game becomes about win at all costs. But rules ensuring minutes for Under 21 Italian prospects have been called for, especially from Fabio Capello. He’s called for a radical shift in mentality, youth academies to prioritise Italian talents, including mandated young players to be included in Serie A squads.
Reforming the loan system would aid Italian players. If clubs weren’t able to ship out their entire youth prospects to Serie B and Serie C teams because of a limit on loans, then they would have no choice but to keep them closer to the first team squad to maximise their investment in them.
The obvious next step would be to include B teams or reserve teams in their own league. Giving a competitive element to youth development and bridging the gap between academies and the first team. I’m not a fan of Juventus/Milan/Inter Reserves all playing down in Serie C, in vastly uncompetitive matches with semi-pro players that just want to chase them and kick them. Having a reserve league of their own would enable competitive games without the need for “win at all costs”.
Investment in academies is an option for Italian clubs too. Perhaps too much of a simple one, given the financial pain they’re all currently facing. But certainly an investment in the coaching structure that these academies would help to keep Italian players in the very academies that produce them.
Conclusion
Italy still produces outstanding footballers — the problem is keeping them. Without a serious change in mentality, investment, and opportunity, Serie A risks becoming a league that develops stars for others to enjoy. The exodus of Retegui, Leoni, Calafiori, and Coppolla might not be the end of an era — it could be the beginning of a very long drought.
This summer has been a busy one for Serie A teams and there’s some big names entering Italy this summer. There’s also some lesser known names who’ll be on our pitches and our screens in 2025/26. So who are they? Where have the come from? Are they any good? Here’s a selection of them…
Kevin De Bruyne, Napoli
Undoubtedly the biggest transfer this summer in Serie A, the six time Premier League winner arrived in Naples this summer to fanfare and adulation from supporters of the current Champions. He’ll link up with Scott McTominay in Napoli’s midfield, which will only make them better. However, at 34 it remains to be seen how he’ll cope with the rigours of a 38 game season and a Champions League campaign.
We don’t really need to analyse his game for you, he remains one of the best passers of the ball in the World and Italy’s slower paced game will suit him. I expect Napoli to get at least one good year out of him before an inevitable move to Saudi Arabia.
Luka Modric, Milan
If you thought Kevin De Bruyne was old, Luka Modric has 5 years on him. The 39 year old has as many Champions League titles as De Bruyne has Premier League titles. The little Croatian is one of the most decorated players in Real Madrid’s history, so despite his advanced age there’s enough for Milan to feel optimistic about this summer.
The “trivela” style player has great composure on the ball, creativity in spades and can unleash a strike from distance to put fear into even the greatest Serie A goalkeeper. Sitting deeper these days, expect Modric to act as a “puppet master” and dictate things in the middle of the park. Again, don’t expect longevity from this transfer, but he’ll lift Milan in the short term.
Wesley, Roma
An interesting one this, Wesley featured three times in the Club World Cup for Flamengo as they beat eventual winners Chelsea and won over the casual fan with their swashbuckling displays. Key to it was the young right back, who provides athleticism and pace on the flanks. The 21 year old signed a 5 year contract with Roma in July and joins Evan Ferguson is lowering the average age of the squad as well as increasing their attacking intent.
Keep an eye on Roma this season, they’ll score a lot of goals with these additions but they’ll be wide open too. Their games won’t be boring at all, but can they bring it together to challenge? Who knows…
Noa Lang, Napoli
The controversial Dutchman joins Napoli for €25m. The winger is explosive, full of creativity and a great eye for goal. A bargain for the price they’ve paid. After struggling to make an impact at Ajax as a young man, he turned to Belgium and Club Brugge where he scored 32 goals in 99 matches before returning to the Netherlands where he scored 15 in 40 matches.
A solid return from out wide and makes Napoli’s attacking line up all the more formidable when he joins up with McTominay, De Bruyne and Lukaku. If Conte can finally get it right in Europe it may leave Napoli stretched, but if he continues his usual progress in European Competition, hand them the Scudetto now.
Luis Henrique, Inter
It’s all change for Inter and we could write an entire post on their window this far, and probably will. However, one of the early pieces of business they managed was the signing of Luis Henrique for a reported fee of around €25m. Henrique played mainly off the wing for Marseille so on the face of it this was an odd signing. However, with Inzaghi leaving and Chivu taking over at Inter, there’s a likely change of shape coming and Henrique could be much more useful in a 3-4-2-1 behing Lautaro.
He underwhelmed in the Club World Cup in his first few performances, but you can’t really judge a man at a new club that was in complete turmoil at the end of an exhausting season. Henrique’s success or failure at Inter will depend how their season opens up, largely expected to be challenging Napoli if they start well, Henrique will do well. If they flounder, I think the player will too.
Lennon Miller, Udinese
Ok, so this isn’t complete yet, but he’s headed to Udine for a medical yesterday so we can assume this one is done and dusted. The Motherwell Central Midfielder is set to become yet another Scot in Italy – however, as an 18 year old, don’t expect to see him week in week out at this stage. The highly rated youngster has already played twice for Scotland’s national team.
He’ll be certainly hoping he can emulate the successes of Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Lewis Ferguson and even Josh Doig and Che Adams out in Italy.
Kamaldeen Sulemana, Atalanta
We’ve written a full blog post on Sulemana which can be found here, but in short this is a sensible move from Atalanta. Especially with Lookman seemingly on his way out of the club. His pace and directness will be an issue for Serie A defences and anyone who can stand out in Southampton’s dreadful season is worth a look.
I like Sulemana as a player and he got off to a great start, scoring against Croatian side Opatija. Keep an eye on this one.
That’s the new boys in Serie A, well a selection of them anyway. It’s also worth keeping an eye on the likes of Petar Susic at Inter, a young player from Croatia, I’m not sure what his influence will be. Inter like their standard midfield of Calha, Mkhitaryan and Barella. There’s a number of transfers within Serie A and we’ll look at them in the coming days, but for now here’s your new boys.
Who do you like? Who’s got you excited at your team?
Tomorrow we’ll be exactly two weeks away from the beginning of the new season and the optimism that comes when no one has actually kicked a ball. By Tuesday morning, half the fans in Serie A will believe their season is already over, the other half will be boasting how this year is their year. But we’re going to peak even sooner than that on the blog and boldly chuck out some predictions two weeks ahead of time with the Mercato in full swing still. Bookmark this later to come back and laugh at!
Champions – The contenders
Napoli
Raced into a great Mercato with the signing of Kevin De Bruyne for nothing. A top, top player but doing nothing for Serie A’s image as a retirement home. With McTominay being nominated for a Ballon D’Or this week and some other smart acquisitions they’re rightly considered favourites amongst most bookmakers. Conte, however, will be the key. He already threw a tantrum and threatened to quit once, will he see the season out? They’ll be hoping so in Naples
Inter Milan
Last season Inter beat Lazio away 6-0, but they also lost at home in the Derby in the last minute. They also got to a Champions League final, which they lost 5-0. The point here is, who knows what Inter will show up from one week to the next? Their market has been a mixture of smart looking deals and ridiculous pursuits underlined by failure. Petar Susic looks a good signing, while the campaign for Lookman stumbles on. One alternative is Mason Greenwood, good goalscorer, questionable bloke. The fall out between Calhanoglu and Lautaro appears to have been papered over, so let’s see how the season plays out. New, inexperienced coach Chivu will have his work cut out. Second favourites with most bookies, there may be some value at 3/1.
Juventus
Juventus are always listed amongst the favourites no matter what. Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceicao will be key in any title challenge Juventus want to put up, if they put one up. Randal Kolo Muani wants to resign for them after his successful loan, Juventus want him, yet they can’t get the deal done. It’s been a strange window for Juve fans, Jonathan David came in and no one can tell if that’s a good thing or not. He’d be a great “option player”, but is he a regular starter? Tudor steadied the ship last year when he came in, but that’s easy for a caretaker to do, now he has the job full time, all his credentials will be put to the test.
Milan
A disastrous campaign last time out, they’ve offloaded some of the bloated squad and brought in some key players. Another feather in the cap for the retirement league is their signing of Luka Modric. The 104 year old Croatian will find life in Italy tough, but his reading of the game and ball playing ability won’t be affected by age. The acquisitions of Jashari, Ricci and Estupinian generate some excitement, as does keeping hold of keeper Mike Maignan. If they can keep Newcastle away from Malick Thiaw then they’ll consider it a summer well done. If they can shake off the absolute circus act they became last season, then maybe they’re an outsider for a 20th Scudetto and second star.
The Others…
Usually you’d highlight Atalanta as a dark horse outsider, but having seen Ivan Juric manage at Roma and Southampton last season and the fact Ademola Lookman is AWOL chasing his Inter move, I don’t see Atalanta troubling the top pack this season.
Their former boss, however, has gone to AS Roma who have made some smart moves in the window, appear to be keeping Dybala and Dovbyk and will inject youth into their team as Gasperini likes to do. I would keep one eye on them as the season draws on.
I’d be surprised to see Genoa or Bologna challenge for the title, but good runs put together in the last season, if they can repeat, could see them trouble the Champions League places.
And don’t forget about La Viola. Pioli is back in Italy and he has a point to prove. It looks like Moise Kean isn’t going anywhere and they’ve added veteran marksman Edin Dzeko to the roster. De Gea stays in goal and it would only take a solid mid-season run to see them pushing to return to Europe’s top table. The title is probably beyond Fiorentina, but Europe isn’t.
Verdict
Ok, balls on the line time…
Champions – Napoli
Champions League – Inter, Milan, Roma
Europa/Conference – Bologna, Atalanta, Juventus
I get it, no big surprises there. Juventus can change things if they secure Kolo Muani or another big striker, and I just fancy Milan to get it together this season. And as for Roma, I just like their business. I like Evan Ferguson and I like the way Gasperini plays football. They’ve got a chance.
Dark Horses
There’s a few clubs who could surprise us all and while they’re outside of the traditional “big clubs” in Italy, they could make a play for a European spot. This season, for me, it’s got to be Como 1907.
Yeah, alright, they’ve got the richest owners in Serie A and have had a busy summer, but they’ve got that small stadium, were in Serie D as recently as 2019. Any European finish would still be a massive achievement for this provincial side.
Cesc Fabregas flatly refused the move to Inter in the summer and insisted on staying with “the project”. Only good news appears to come out of this club, they’ve got some great young flair players and while some pundits are questioning them abandoning Italian players for South American gems, they’re bound to win more than they lose.
The only question marks really are whether they can mix it up and be tough when they need to and can they keep the group together. Well question one was answered the other night when they had a full on fist fight after a friendly with Real Betis, and question two was answered seemingly when Nico Paz and Cesc Fabregas chose to stay rather than heading down the road to Inter.
Don’t be surprised if Como end up playing European football next season.
The promoted teams
Always the favourites to go back down, how will the promoted sides fair next season?
Sassuolo
Dominant in Serie B last season, winning the league by some margin, it should highlight their readiness for top flight football. Yet they were comfortably relegated from Serie A the season before. They need to avoid becoming an Italian Norwich and stake a claim to stay in the league. Bookmakers make them the strongest promoted candidate to stay up, and the collapse of Armand Lauriente’s transfer to Sunderland is a big factor in this. The winger scored 18 goals and provided 5 assists last season and will be key to any creativity in Serie A.
Pisa
Got promoted and lost manager Pippo Inzaghi back to Serie B and rivals Palermo. Not a great start. However, they have replaced him with Alberto Gilardino and having made it back to the top flight for the first time in 34 years, they’ll be keen to hang on and stay there. Matteo Tramoni looks to be sticking around having banged in 13 goals last season for them, which is welcome. Veteran player Juan Cuadrado is also on board and the loan of midfielder Akinsanmiro from Inter boost their numbers nicely. They’ll need to replicate their strong defence from last season where they only conceded 36 goals on their way to second place.
Pisa collected a trophy for coming second in some Utter Woke Madness
Cremonese
Cremonese finished 4th last season, behind Spezia, but went up through the play offs. However, since the departure of Giovanni Stroppa who led them to promotion they have survival specialist Davide Nicola in charge. The Italian Sam Allardyce has rescued Crotone (2019/20), Torino (2020/21), Salernitana (2021/22), Empoli (2023/24). He will hope to replicate this with Cremonese, but will have his work cut out with a side who’ve only just spent more than €10m this Mercato.
Verdict
I can’t see past Cremonese for relegation I’m afraid. Sorry guys, but despite having Davide Nicola, it doesn’t look good for you. Sassuolo have the capability to stay up, but do they have the belief only time will tell. Pisa could dig in under Gilardino’s leadership and if they can continue their strong defensive record they definitely have a chance, but I think the rest of the league may prove too good for them.
However, bookmakers also look to the likes of Verona, Lecce and even Cagliari as potential relegation candidates.
I think ultimately, Lecce and Cremonese will go, one of Pisa and Sassuolo to join them…Sorry guys.
Top Scorer
Might as well just piss into the wind and pick a name here. Who can ever predict the top scorer? Even when Inter won two years ago and Lautaro took the prize it was his first time ever. Last season Mateo Retegui won it and promptly left Italy for Saudi Arabia. So who’s going to take it home this season?
Well, surprisingly, Lautaro Martinez is leading the bookies charge at 9/2, good value but he spent most of last season looking exhausted. Another 60-odd games last season won’t have helped him out. Moise Kean is next best at 11/2, but you can’t help but feel he needs Fiorentina to have a good season for him to win that title.
Jonathan David pops up third in a lot of lists, and at 7/1 there’s certainly some value in it. Again, if Juventus spend another 3 months imploding as per last season, his chance will have gone.
There’s some newbies to the league who have a shot too. I can’t hide my admiration for Evan Ferguson and with a solid pre-season of goals for Roma and Gasperini’s attacking style, he’s got a great chance to get it. Noa Lang at Napoli is a dark horse too. Not exactly a prolific career to date but Napoli will spend most of the season on the front foot and with the supply lines coming from KdB and McFratm, he should get chances. As will their other striker, Big Rom Lukaku. Always up there without ever winning the grand prize, he’ll have his eyes on it this season.
Verdict: For some value I’d go for an each way bet on Evan Ferguson, but for me it’s got to be Lukaku or Lautaro. Once a prolific duo, now on opposite sides of the title race. Their goalscoring might just tip the title in their team’s favour.
When I was growing up, Serie A was all about the biggest names, the biggest price tags and the biggest reputations. Now, that mantle has passed to the Premier League and as a cynical 30-something year old, I’m bored of all that. What gets me interested in football now is seeing academy graduates make it through. Watching them tentatively replace a bigger name in the 80th minute and then remembering that moment 4 years later when Liverpool pay €80m for him to sit on their bench.
So I’ve done a deep dive, with the help of some Googling and some podcast listening – and here’s who to look out for this season breaking through into Serie A, and some Serie A players who broke through last season who I expect to make an impact this time around…
Francesco Camarda (CF, Lecce on loan from AC Milan)
Age: 17
Nationality: Italian
Height: 1.89m
Profile: A prodigious striker who became the youngest player in Serie A history when he debuted for Milan aged just 15 years and 260 days. Camarda is a generational youth prospect, having scored over 400 goals at youth level and drawing comparisons to a young Erling Haaland due to his size, finishing instinct, and movement.
Tactical Analysis: Camarda excels in the box, using intelligent movement to escape defenders and make runs across the front line. He’s composed in 1v1 situations and has an advanced sense of space. He can operate as a lone striker in a 4-3-3 or as part of a front two in a 3-5-2, where his ability to combine and occupy centre-backs becomes even more dangerous.
Outlook 2025/26: Loaned to Lecce to gain first-team experience. Expect him to be eased in gradually but could finish the season as a starter. Key focus will be on how he adapts to the physicality of senior defenders.
Francesco Pio Esposito (CF, Inter)
Age: 19
Nationality: Italian
Height: 1.88m
Profile: The younger brother of Salvatore Esposito, Francesco Pio is carving out a name for himself as one of Italy’s most promising centre-forwards. Developed in Inter’s academy, he spent last season on loan at Spezia in Serie B, showing flashes of maturity, aggression, and technical development. He has represented Italy at every youth level and was impressive in Inter’s short Club World Cup campaign this summer.
Tactical Analysis: Esposito is a physically robust striker who plays with his back to goal exceptionally well. He’s strong in the air, holds up play to bring others in, and presses defenders with real intensity — making him a natural fit for teams playing a high-energy, vertical style. Technically tidy, with solid link-up play, he thrives when partnered with a more mobile or creative second striker.
Outlook 2025/26: Inter have opted to retain Esposito rather than loan him out again, despite interest from Serie A clubs and even Premier League teams. Signed to a new contract through 30 June 2030, he’s expected to be part of the senior squad in Chivu’s rotation system. While he may not start every match, Esposito is almost certain to feature as an impact sub or rotational starter, particularly in Coppa Italia and midweek fixtures.
Nicolò Savona (RB/FB, Juventus)
Age: 22
Nationality: Italian
Height: 1.92m
Profile: A tall, elegant full-back who rose through the Juventus ranks and began earning minutes under Thiago Motta. He is known for his intelligent positioning, clean tackling, and comfort on the ball.
Tactical Analysis: Savona operates primarily as a right-back but has the tactical intelligence to play in an inverted full-back role. He contributes to build-up by stepping into midfield, offering an outlet in possession, and helping to compress space in transitions. His aerial ability also provides an asset in defending set-pieces.
Outlook 2025/26: May not be around much longer in Serie A with the Premier League circling. I would fancy him to get plenty of minutes if he stays. Unfortunately with English clubs already interested, any stay would be very brief.
Aaron Ciammaglichella (CM, Torino)
Age: 20
Nationality: Italian
Profile: A product of Torino’s youth academy, Ciammaglichella is a highly rated central midfielder who has been compared stylistically to Lorenzo Pellegrini. He is part of Italy’s U20 setup and has been identified as a future national team player.
Tactical Analysis: A box-to-box midfielder who thrives in high-tempo matches. He presses aggressively, tracks back reliably, and has the passing range to play progressive balls. Capable of operating in a double pivot or as the advanced midfielder in a 4-2-3-1.
Outlook 2025/26: Torino are expected to hand him more consistent minutes off the bench, with the potential to become a starter in the second half of the season depending on injuries or tactical changes.
Giovanni Leoni (CB, Parma)
Age: 18
Nationality: Italian
Profile: A highly mature centre-back for his age, Leoni impressed with Parma and has seamlessly stepped up to Serie A level. Juventus and Inter have shown interest.
Tactical Analysis: Leoni is a modern centre-back: aggressive in duels, confident in possession, and adept at playing line-breaking passes. He reads danger early and positions himself smartly in a high defensive line. Particularly effective in a three-man defence where he can cover wide spaces.
Outlook 2025/26: Expected to start regularly for Parma if he’s still there come 23rd August. If Inter can offload some players it’s widely expected he’ll be playing there next season. Expect to see an Azzurri call up for friendly squads.
Simone Pafundi (AM/Winger, Udinese)
Age: 19
Nationality: Italian
Profile: Once dubbed the “Italian Messi” in youth circles, Pafundi has been a regular fixture in Italy’s youth teams and is slowly being integrated into Udinese’s first team. Despite his small stature, he boasts incredible flair and agility.
Tactical Analysis: Pafundi thrives in the left half-space, where he can drive at defenders and pick out passes between the lines. He’s best used as a roaming attacking midfielder or wide playmaker. Relies on quick feet, vision, and anticipation rather than physicality.
Outlook 2025/26: A make-or-break season. Needs consistent playing time and end-product to secure a long-term role in Udinese’s project or attract interest from bigger Serie A sides.
Lorenzo Venturino (RW, Genoa)
Screenshot
Age: 19
Nationality: Italian
Profile: Emerged at the back end of the 2024/25 season, scoring twice in Genoa’s final game. Fast-tracked through the academy, Venturino is one of Italy’s most explosive young wingers.
Tactical Analysis: Direct and pacey, Venturino is dangerous in 1v1s. He hugs the touchline and beats defenders with acceleration before cutting inside to shoot. Can also play off the left to utilise his stronger right foot.
Outlook 2025/26: Expected to be a regular feature off the bench, with growing responsibilities depending on his ability to deliver goals and assists in limited minutes.
Lorenzo Anghelè (CF, Juventus Next Gen)
Age: 20
Nationality: Italian
Profile: A sharp and mobile striker with a knack for finding space in the box. He scored regularly in Serie C and was rewarded with a senior debut last season.
Tactical Analysis: Anghelè is a classic poacher with intelligent positioning. He’s quick across short distances and capable of linking play with one-touch combinations. Best suited to a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 alongside a physical partner.
Outlook 2025/26: Likely to split time between Juventus Next Gen and sporadic first-team appearances. Could push for more minutes if injuries or squad rotation open a window, especially if they can’t get Kolo Muani over the line
As Serie A enters the 2025/26 season, the spotlight won’t just be on the usual title contenders or big-name signings — it will shine just as brightly on the emerging talents poised to shape the league’s future. From Camarda’s goal-scoring instincts to Leoni’s composure at the back, this new wave of Italian prospects reflects a league rediscovering its identity through youth development. Keep a close eye on these players — they might not just break through, but break out in a big way. The future of Calcio is already here — and it’s looking brighter than ever.
Goalkeeper is probably, arguably the most important position on the pitch. And I know I’m biased in saying that, as it was my position when I still had hair and could get up off the floor after making a save. But in reality, if you don’t have a good goalkeeper you aren’t winning anything. Goalkeepers are often called mad, and you have to be to throw yourself at the feet of someone baring down on goal. For me, the annoying thing was that everyone on the pitch thought they were a keeper, they all had advice for you, despite never playing there themselves.
Before this turns into a rant though, let’s get back on track. Italy has produced some truly magnificent goalkeepers, and Serie A has played host to some of the greatest of all time from around the World. So, who was the best? I’ve selected a few of my favourites, without ranking who was best out of them. In no particular order, here are my favourites…
Gianluigi Buffon
“Buffon is the best goalkeeper I’ve ever seen, the only one who was never afraid of anything.” – Fabio Capello
Gianluigi Buffon has the most clean sheets in Serie A history
Gianluigi Buffon was just 12 years old when he decided that he didn’t want to play in midfield anymore and became a goalkeeper. Five years later he was making his Parma debut against Milan and keeping a clean sheet.
During his career Buffon would hold the World Record for most expensive goalkeeper (€52m) until recently, win 10 Serie A titles, 5 Coppa Italia, a World Cup and would be 3 times UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year. Comfortable in the air, with elite reflexes and great positional awareness, Buffon still holds the Serie A record for most clean sheets in Serie A with 296 and was once unbeaten in the goal for 974 consecutive minutes.
Was there anyone better?
Dino Zoff
“If you ask me who was the greatest, I say Zoff. He was not flashy, but you knew the goal was safe with him.” – Gianni Rivera
Dino Zoff made over 600 appearances in Serie A
Staying on the Juve theme with one of the other great Italian goalkeepers. Zoff actually made over 300 appearances for Udinese, Mantova and Napoli before joining and defining Juve. He would win 6 Scudetti and 2 Coppa Italia along with the World Cup (the oldest player to do so), before going into management where he would lead Juventus to the UEFA Cup and Coppa Italia titles in 1990.
He still holds the record for the longest consecutive run in Azzurri history without conceding, lasting 1,142 minutes in the early seventies. Zoff is the archetype of the classic Italian goalkeeper: composed, understated, and unbelievably reliable. Known for his leadership and calmness, he commanded his defence with supreme authority.
Walter Zenga
“Walter was a phenomenon – he could change the mood of a stadium with one save.” – Giuseppe Bergomi
Zenga conceded just twice in seven matches at Italia 90
Walter Zenga was nicknamed Spiderman because of his agility and spectacular reflex saves. For three consecutive years, he was IFFHS World Goalkeeper of the Year. He played 328 times in Serie A and was a UEFA Cup winner with Inter and represented the Azzurri 58 times.
Zenga combined flamboyance with athleticism. He was known for his dramatic saves and passion on the pitch. He was also renowned for his passion off the pitch, fathering 5 children over three marriages including two marriages to TV personalities. He has gone on to have a rather nomadic managerial career while still being a showbiz personality in Italy. Despite the off-field shenanigans, Zenga is remembered as an all time great of the game by Inter, Sampdoria and Azzurri fans alike.
Angelo Peruzzi
“He wasn’t just a wall — he was a mountain.” – Marcello Lippi
Peruzzi won the Champions League while at Juventus
In 478 appearances in Serie A, Peruzzi represented some of the biggest teams and most bitter rivals. He played for Roma and Lazio as well as both Juventus and Inter. To pull this off you need to be good, and Peruzzi was VERY good. He was short for a goalkeeper, under 6 foot, but that low centre of gravity gave him great reflexes and shot stopping skills.
Peruzzi would win 3 Serie A titles, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup during his career as well as 31 caps for Italy. He would also add a World Cup winners medal in 2006, despite never taking to the field. Peruzzi would retire from football in 2007.
Sebastiano Rossi
“He was always part of that Milan machine – ruthless, efficient, unbeatable.” – Arrigo Sacchi
Sebastiano Rossi was part of the “Dream Team” of Milan in the 1990s
Rossi joined his home town club Cesena at the age of 15 and was their first choice goalkeeper by the age of 22 after several loan spells. After his first season in Italy’s top flight, the giants of AC Milan came calling and after initially battling with Francesco Antonioli for the starting spot, he made it his own and would play over 340 games in Serie A, winning 5 Scudetti, the 1994 Champions League and UEFA Super Cup.
He held the clean sheet record for 24 years until eventually losing it to Gianluigi Buffon. Rossi wasn’t considered the most stylish goalkeeper but was immensely effective in an all conquering side behind the legendary defence of Baresi, Maldini, Costacurta and Tassotti. Despite all this he was consistently overlooked by the Azzurri and never played for Italy.
Gianluca Pagliuca
“Pagliuca wasn’t afraid of anyone. He stared you down like he already knew you’d miss.” – Roberto Mancini
Gianluca Pagliuca played nearly 600 times in Serie A
One of the most consistent and agile Italian keepers of the 1990s, known for his intensity and acrobatics. Pagliuca played for the Sampdoria side that won the 1991 Scudetto and was playing in their narrow Champions League final defeat to Barcelona a year later.
After seven years and 198 games for Sampdoria, Inter paid a World Record fee for a goalkeeper of just €7m to bring the Italian to their club. Rather remarkably, during his time at Inter he only won the UEFA Cup and nothing else. He was a beaten finalist in the 1994 World Cup as Italy lost on penalties to Brazil. Ironically, he held the record for some years of most penalties saved in Serie A with 24, until that was broken by Samir Handanovic.
An Azzurri and Serie A legend, Pagliuca moved on from Inter to Bologna where he would spend seven seasons and play a massive 248 games before finishing his career with a season in Ascoli, retiring in 2007.
Summary
From the cat-like reflexes of Zenga to the steely composure of Zoff, and the longevity of Buffon to the penalty-saving prowess of Handanović, Serie A has long been a proving ground for the world’s greatest goalkeepers. These legends didn’t just stop shots—they shaped eras, lifted trophies, and became the last line of defence for some of Calcio’s most iconic sides. In a league famed for tactical discipline and defensive mastery, it’s no wonder that so many of the game’s finest stoppers have called Serie A home. As new stars emerge between the posts, their legacy serves as a benchmark—and an inspiration—for generations to come.
When a striker has a difficult spell in England at West Ham, you could be forgiven for thinking that the game is up. Destined to become a journeyman bagging a few here and there at different spells in lower/mid table clubs. That’s what Gianluca Scamacca must have thought anyway, until he came to work with Gian Piero Gasperini at Atalanta.
Fast forward a season and the Italian’s career was resurrected, he was back in the national team and he owed it all to Gasperini. At least that’s what I read into his words, “If I’m here so much it’s thanks to him, this year he helped me and managed to strike the right chords to make me click, I owe a lot to him.”
Now, Gasperini looks all set to hook up with Irish striker Evan Ferguson. The 20 year old is far from a washed up journeyman, but his career has drifted somewhat since a breakthrough season at Brighton when he score 10 goals in 25 matches as an 18 year old prodigy. Ferguson started the next season on fire and scored a memorable hat trick against Newcastle, but would only score 3 more goals that season as injuries hampered his progress.
Last season he managed only 1 goal in 13 matches before being loaned to West Ham in a spell which can only be described as disastrous. That’s not entirely down to him of course, West Ham’s second half of last season was only mildly better than their start and they were woefully inadequate as a team. It probably wasn’t the best environment for confidence building.
And confidence building will be key for a player who was once touted at €120m and now looking at significantly less. Injuries affected his confidence on the pitch, but also in himself, with the player seeming reluctant to fly into tackles or stretch himself physically.
Ferguson is physically strong, he has a bit of the Alan Shearer about him. A big lad, strong, physical, two footed finisher who has a strong header on him too. In fact Shearer himself described him as a striker with, “no obvious weakness”.
Physicality will serve him well in a Gasperini system, he’ll need to be ready to engage the defensive line early and he’ll need to be willing to run. As Scamacca himself said, “The coach hammered me day after day, told me how to move on the pitch, but also I started to get into good physical shape and so could give him what he wanted.”
Scamacca isn’t the only striker Gasperini has moulded either, one standout example from Atalanta shows how the relationship with Gasp can create a monster that’s hard to replicate elsewhere. Rasmus Hojlund had the eye of a lot of European clubs after his breakout season at Atalanta, Gasperini sharpened what was raw talent and got the best out of the young Dane. Manchester United have struggled to replicate this.
There’s no doubt at all that if Evan Ferguson can gain consistent minutes in a Roma shirt that his confidence will improve. Gasperini has a tried and trusted system that nurtures young attacking talent, while demanding a lot from them. Ferguson already aligns with some of Gasperini’s trademarks, he’s a strong and physical lad which will aid him in the press, something Brighton did effectively with him too.
Further to that, he provides an aerial headache for defences, he can provide that target man focus when required. Not only this, but he’s more than capable of drifting wide and linking with Wing Backs.
So where does he need to improve? First and foremost it’s with his fitness. It might be harsh to judge a player on their injuries, but if he can stay in shape and stay fit, that’s the first hurdle jumped.
Serie A’s defenders are significantly tougher and more physical than Premier League defences, who tend to focus more on their possession play than out of possession discipline. This will take some adapting in Italy.
For me, his best chance of success will come in a dual striker system, the 3-4-1-2, rather than the 3-4-2-1. Partnering Ferguson with the likes of Dovbyk will complement aerial strength with sharp finishing.
Personally, I like Evan Ferguson, if you hadn’t been able to puzzle that out yet. This was a kid once valued very highly by Brighton and was attracting interest from all over Europe. Roma have the chance to land an absolute bargain. Moving to Italy has proven to be a breath of fresh air for so many stagnating in the Premier League, just look at the form of Scott McTominay.
I would say Ferguson has the potential to be significantly better than the Scot and if he can progress with Roma, you may just have them as an outside bet this season…
There are only a few countries in the World that can rival the Italian passion for the beautiful game, and fewer that can match the passion that comes from her derbies. So when the two most successful teams in Italy come head to head for bragging rights, shit goes down…
Juventus and Inter Milan isn’t a city rivalry like the Derby della Madonina, or the Derby della Capitale. The Derby D’Italia, as the name suggests, is a battle for Italy. Not a city. So what led to this being a game that would have Gianluigi Buffon say, “There are matches you play with pride, and then there’s Inter — you play those with your blood.”
Both sides hold contrasting identities. Juventus, based in Turin, owned by the powerful Agnelli family (think Fiat) and linked traditionally with the business elites. And while Inter and their hedge fund manager owners are more lately considered business elites – historically the Milanese team was considered more cosmopolitan than business like.
Inter’s foundation in 1907 after a split from AC Milan over the issue of foreign players led to Inter being considered a team of artists, poets and generally anti-establishment. This, therefore is a battle of contrasting styles, different cities and a battle for supremacy on the pitch – and off it.
The best players in the World have played the Derby D’Italia
Think Liverpool v Manchester United.
And when you add up the trophy count, it’s easy to see why this rivalry was allowed to blossom. Constantly competing at the top for honours, Juventus have 36 titles (officially, but we’ll come back to that). Inter hold 20, but have the upper hand with 3 European Cups (Champions League) to Juve’s 2. Overall, the two teams hold 113 crowns, with Juve edging Inter 67-46.
Titles ignited this rivalry into pure hatred during the 2006 season when Calciopoli exploded. Juventus (more specifically Luciano Moggi) were accused of manipulating referee appointments to favour certain clubs during the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Juventus would be relegated to Serie B and stripped of the 2006 title which was then handed to Inter who originally finished as runners up.
It was Inter’s first title since 1989 and often referred to by Juventus fans as the cardboard title (scudetto di cartone) but as Marco Materazzi put it, “We took what they stole from us”. Inter were implicated in Calciopoli but never charged with anything which led to calls of hypocrisy from Juventus fans. There were calls of a witch hunt against Juventus, however, Inter fans point to one game in 1998 which they feel proves their point.
With four games remaining in the season, Inter travelled to the Stadio delle Alpi for a showdown with league leaders Juventus, who sat one point ahead of them. Inter, without a scudetto in nearly a decade were loaded with stars including Ronaldo, Djorkaeff, Simeone and Zanetti. Juventus included in their squad Del Piero, Zidane, Davids and Deschamps. None of these players would be the star of the day, step forward referee Piero Ceccarini.
Juventus took the lead in the first half with a really well taken goal by Del Piero (what else did you expect), before Inter piled on the pressure, with Ronaldo going close on several occasions. The game then settled into a rather scrappy second half, before the flashpoint.
Iuliano was judged to have not fouled Ronaldo
It all happened in 15 seconds really. Ronaldo entered the Juventus box and was blocked off from taking on a shot by Mark Iuliano. The Inter players looked round at the referee, expecting a whistle that never came. Cue pandemonium. Inter players reacted as you might expect, chasing the referee and waving their arms, while Davids brought the ball away and up the pitch. He passed to Zidane who beat two defenders and rolled the ball into Alessandro Del Piero. Taribo West came in from behind and pushed him in the back, Del Piero went down and Ceccarini blew for a spot kick.
Few debate that West had fouled Del Piero, but Inter were incensed, seeing no difference between the foul on him and the challenge on Ronaldo less than a minute earlier. Inter lost their heads, surrounding the referee, shoving him, the Inter manager Simonini was sent off.
The controversy didn’t stop there though, Del Piero actually missed the penalty. Inter, buoyed, went on the attack and had a goal ruled out for a Zamorano foul on the keeper. Juve celebrated, Inter fumed.
Inter lose their heads.
Pagliuca ended up in a scrap with Juventus fans and three days later in the Italian Parliament, Domenico Gramazio of the far-right National Alliance party had to be held back as he tried to confront footballer-turned-politician Massimo Mauro, who had won the title with Juventus in the 1980s before joining the Democratic Party.
Inter fans refer to the game as the mother of Calciopoli and the season became known as the great robbery. The damage was done though, the Derby D’Italia which was once a great sporting spectacle was now an all out war. And it wouldn’t get any prettier.
There’s much debate in Italy about the role of Ultras and that isn’t going away, but one thing you can usually guarantee is that they’ll light up an atmosphere, especially in a derby. It isn’t always in a positive way, however, and there have been numerous examples of this Derby boiling over off the pitch.
One of the more famous examples comes from 2018 when Inter’s Curva Nord caused national outrage with a banner mocking the Heysel disaster from 1985. I won’t put here what the banner said, it’s reprehensible, you can Google it yourself if you want. Needless to say, it didn’t go down well and retribution was swift.
Historically in Italy, especially around derbies, Ultras groups agree to pacts of non-aggression. Instead, hoping to protect the streets of their city from becoming a warzone and ensuring no innocent fans are swept up in the trouble. There is no such pact between the Juventus and Inter ultras. In fact, quite the opposite, they maintain a “guerra aperta” or “open warfare”.
Perhaps Zlatan Ibrahimovic captured this the best, when he signed for Inter from Juventus in 2006, “When I signed for Inter, I knew I wasn’t just changing clubs — I was switching sides in a war.”
Hopefully, I’ve managed to tread the area around some of the Derby’s thornier issues without upsetting too many people and if you’re still here we can debate some of the greatest matches.
Yildiz rescues Juventus in 2024
I actually went to one last year, I was at the San Siro as Inter blew a 4-2 lead to draw the game 4-4 thanks to an inspired Kenan Yildiz who took it upon himself to rescue his side. In 2022, however, Inter did win a match 4-2, with goals in extra time from Ivan Perisic, one penalty and one absolute thunderbolt securing the Coppa Italia crown for Inter.
In 1961, the biggest win in this fixture happened. In what was supposed to a title deciding fixture, crowds flocked to the Stadio Comunale in Turin to see the Bianconeri (hopefully) crowned champions. The game was clearly oversubscribed, with Juventus fans sat on the Inter bench and covering the running track, inches from the pitch.
After 30 minutes, the referee called time on the game, the conditions were ridiculous. According the rules, Juventus (responsible for crowd control) should have forfeit the game 0-2 as the responsible party for the abandonment. Juventus appealed the decision to the CAF (Football Arbitration Court) which happened to have as its president… the Juventus president.
The 1961 clash between Juventus and Inter
The 0-2 defeat was therefore subsequently overturned, and a replay ordered. A furious Inter Milan were deducted their (then) 2 points for the “win” and told to replay the game. This dropped them back below Juventus. Inter were furious and protested the decision, sending a youth team instead of their first team, subsequently losing 9-1. Juventus won that title and a pure hatred was born.
The Derby D’Italia is Italy’s El Clasico. It’s the two most successful teams fighting it out for supremacy. It’s bragging rights until the next time. Since Calciopoli, the bitterness and hatred between the two sides has intensified and despite the league position, the games are always intense. Inter hate Juventus. And Juventus hate Inter more. As Claudio Marchisio put it, “We’re not just playing Inter — we’re defending who we are.”
The fixture shows off the best and the worst of Italian football, and if you get the opportunity to go, you should. You just might enjoy yourself.
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