Zlatan Ibrahimovic may have moved to France, but there’s plenty happening in Italy’s Serie A with Lucio, Riccardo Montolivo, Rodrigo Palacio and many more making major moves.
The Title Contenders
Juventus Arrivals: Lucio (Inter Milan), Sebastian Giovinco (Parma), Martin Caceres (Sevilla), Mauricio Isla (Udinese), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese) Departures: Alessandro Del Piero (released), Eljero Elia (Werder Bremen), Fabio Grosso (released)
The champions remain strong despite the departure of club legend Del Piero, with the additions of Isla and Giovinco two major positives, along with Asamoah’s arrival to help Andrea Pirlo. Lucio adds depth to their defensive line too.
AC Milan Arrivals: Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan), Bakaye Traore (Nancy), Gabriel (Cruzeiro), Francesco Acerbi (Genoa), Kevin Constant (Genoa - loan) Departures: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG), Mark van Bommel (PSV Eindhoven), Gennaro Gattuso (Sion), Clarence Seedorf (Botafogo), Alessandro Nesta (Montreal Impact), Filippo Inzaghi (released), Gianluca Zambrotta (released)
The 2010-11 champions have let go a number of veteran players including Van Bommel, Gattuso, Seedorf, Nesta, Inzaghi and Zambrotta, meaning it’s a period of change for them. Montolivo’s signing from Fiorentina is a major boost, but the exit of Ibrahimovic leaves their frontline vulnerable, meaning Alexandre Pato must develop alongside Antonio Cassano.
Inter Milan Arrivals: Milan Handanovic (Udinese), Fredy Guarin (FC Porto), Rodrigo Palacio (Genoa), Matías Silvestre (Palermo - loan) Departures: Lucio (Juventus), Sulley Muntari (AC Milan), Goran Pandev (Napoli), Diego Forlan (Internacional), Mauro Zarate (Lazio)
Inter have forked out €11million for Colombian midfielder Guarin, while they’ve moved to replace Forlan and Pandev in attack with Genoa’s Argentine striker Palacio who was prolific last term. Slovenian Handanovic arrives too to boost their keeping stocks to put pressure on Julio Cesar, while Silvestre should replace Lucio in the centre of defence.
Udinese Arrivals: Thomas Heurtaux (Caen), Willians (Flamengo), Zeljko Brkic (Siena), Luis Muriel (Lecce) Departures: Mauricio Isla (Juventus), Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus), Milan Handanovic (Inter Milan), Thierry Doubai (Sochaux)
Last season’s third-place getters have lost some key men in Isla, Asamoah and Handanovic, with Brkic returning from Siena to take over the number one spot. Brazilian midfielder Willians is an exciting addition, while Colombian striker Luis Muriel should slot into the frontline after a loan spell at Lecce.
Lazio Arrivals: Ederson (Lyon), Pasquale Foggia (Sampdoria), Mauro Zarate (Inter Milan), Sergio Floccari (Parma) Departures: Stephen Makinwa (released)
The Romans will be boosted by the return of several key players such as Foggia, Zarate and Floccari after loan stints, while they’ve gone and grabbed Brazilian midfielder Ederson from Lyon on a free transfer. Lazio appear strong again with Hernanes continuing to grow.
Napoli Arrivals: Goran Pandev (Inter Milan) Departures: Ezequiel Lavezzi (PSG)
Walter Mazzarri’s side remain a major player in Serie A, but they have lost their creative influence in attack Ezequiel Lavezzi who has joined the party in Paris. Pandev is a player who has boosted their attacking options, where he’ll work with Edinson Cavani and Marek Hamsik.
AS Roma Arrivals: Michael Bradley (Chievo), David Pizarro (Manchester City), Marco Borriello (Juventus), Alessandro Florenzi (Crotone), Dodo (Corinthians) Departures: Fabio Borini (Liverpool), Cicinho (Recife)
Star duo Pizarro and Borriello are back after loan spells, but Zdenek Zeman’s outfit are weakened by the departure of Borini to Liverpool but he has been sold for €13.3M, freeing up plenty of cash to spend. Watch this space.
The Rest
Parma Arrivals: Amauri (Fiorentina), Sotiris Ninis (Panathinaikos), Marco Parolo (Cesena - loan) Dorlan Pabon (Atletico Nacional), Ishak Belfodil (Lyon) Departures: Sebastian Giovinco (Juventus), Gianluca Lapadula (Cesena), Manuel Coppola (Siena), Paolo Hernán Dellafiore (Siena), Sergio Floccari (Lazio)
Bologna Arrivals: Cristian Pasquato (Udinese - loan) Departures: Marco Di Vaio (Montreal Impact), Andrea Raggi (Monaco), Jean-Francois Gillet (Torino)
Chievo Verona Arrivals: Pavol Farkaš (Vaslui), Roberto Guana (Cesena), Alberto Paloschi (AC Milan – loan), David Di Michele (Lecce) Departures: Yonese Hanine (Ascoli), Michael Bradley (AS Roma)
Catania Arrivals: Amidu Salifu (Fiorentina), Alberto Frison (Vicenza), Takayuki Morimoto (Novara) Departures: Maxi Lopez (Sampdoria)
Atalanta Arrivals: Ivan Radovanovic (Novara), Moussa Kone (Pescara) Departures: Simone Tiribocchi (released),
Fiorentina Arrivals: Mounir El Hamdaoui (Ajax), Facundo Roncaglia (Boca Juniors), Ahmed Hegazy (Ismaily) Departures: Riccardo Montolivo (AC Milan), Houssine Kharja (Al Arabi), Amauri (Parma), Per Kroldrup (released), Artur Boruc (released)
Siena Arrivals: Paolo Hernán Dellafiore (Parma), Manuel Coppola (Parma), Francesco Valiani (Parma) Departures: Luca Rossettini (Cagliari), Franco Brienza (Palermo), Andrea Rossi (Parma)
Cagliari Arrivals: Luca Rossettini (Siena) Departures: None
Palermo Arrivals: Franco Brienza (Siena) Departures: Matteo Darmian (Torino), Matías Silvestre (Inter Milan - loan)
Genoa Arrivals: Steve von Bergen (Cesena), Ciro Immobile (Juventus), Daniel Tozser (Genk) Departures: Rodrigo Palacio (Inter Milan), Francesco Acerbi (AC Milan), Miguel Veloso (Dynamo Kiev), Kevin Constant (AC Milan - loan)
Pescara Arrivals: Elvis Abbruscato (Vicenza), Gianluca Caprari (AS Roma) Departures: Stefano Giacomelli (Vicenza), Marco Sansovini (Spezia)
Torino Arrivals: Jean-Francois Gillet (Bologna), Matteo Darmian (Palermo) Departures: None
Sampdoria Arrivals: Maxi Lopez (Catania), Fabrizio Cacciatore (Varese), Andrea Poli (Inter Milan) Departures: Daniele Dessena (Cagliari), Pasquale Foggia (Inter Milan)
