Serie A: Five key talking points ahead of the big kick-off

A new season brings new hope and the 2025-26 Serie A campaign is full of intrigue with plenty of big-name signings and managerial changes having been made.

DAZN News picks out some of the key talking points as the Italian top flight prepares to kick off tomorrow. 

Title race looks tough to predict

Defending champions Napoli are the bookies’ favourites to retain their crown, but Inter Milan could push them close again.

The Nerazzurri endured a disappointing 2024-25 campaign where they failed to win a trophy and were thumped 5-0 in the Champions League final against PSG.

Yet they finished just one point behind Napoli and have since had a change of manager with Simone Inzaghi being replaced by Cristian Chivu, who defected from Parma.

Teams also expected to challenge Napoli include Serie A giants Juventus and AC Milan, who finished fourth and eighth respectively last term.

Certainly for a club of Milan’s size and stature, that was tantamount to failure.

The likes of Roma, Atalanta, Lazio and Fiorentina are seen as potential dark horses – but Napoli could again take some stopping.

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The new signings to watch

It has been a busy summer of comings and goings in Serie A this summer with some big-money signings having been made.

Italy midfielder Samuele Ricci has joined AC Milan from Torino in a deal worth a total of €25million.

He became the Rossoneri’s first signing of the summer and already has 10 Italy caps to his name.

Meanwhile, highly-rated winger Jesus Rodriguez has joined Como from Real Betis, having made 32 appearances in La Liga last season.

The 19-year-old was widely regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in Spanish football and will now look to prove himself in Serie A under Cesc Fabregas.

Dutch defender Sam Beukema has joined Napoli after a two-year spell with Bologna, during which time he made 80 appearances across all competitions, including all eight games in the club’s historic Champions League campaign last season.

Beukema is rated highly and appears ripe for a big campaign with the Serie A champions as he looks to force his way into the Netherlands squad to earn a first senior cap.

Roma signed the France-born midfielder Neil El Aynaoui on a five-year deal from Lens on July 20 and he is tipped to shine in the Italian capital.

El Aynaoui is a product of Nancy’s youth academy and made his first team debut for the club in 2021 before he moved to Lens in 2023 and racked up 130 appearances, scoring 17 goals.

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Watching the champions should be fun

Last season Conte guided Napoli to their second league title in three years, describing it as “the most unexpected, difficult and stimulating scudetto of my career.”

It said much for the Italian’s acumen as he became the first manager to win Serie A with three different clubs following successes with Juventus and Inter Milan.

The 56-year-old, who led Chelsea to the Premier League title in 2016-17, will be quietly optimistic about keeping the scudetto trophy under lock and key this season.

Scott McTominay enjoyed an outstanding debut campaign in Naples last term and with Manchester City legend Kevin De Bruyne having also been recruited, along with  Noa Lang from PSV, Sam Beukema from Bologna, Lorenzo Lucca from Udinese and Vanja Milinkovic-Savic from Torino, Napoli go into the new campaign overflowing with self belief.

Cesc Fabregas looks a managerial star in the making

When Como were promoted to Serie A in 2024-25, Fabregas was appointed as their permanent manager on a four-year contract.

The former Arsenal midfielder was anointed after serving as interim and assistant coach during the promotion-winning campaign.

In his first full season in charge, Fabregas guided Como to a 10th-placed finish last term.

That earned him a reputation as one of the most promising young coaches in European football and attracted links with Inter Milan.

Fabregas has instilled discipline into his squad and the Spaniard’s leadership qualities and tactical acumen have been clear to see.

He has also been backed heavily in the transfer market this summer, bolstering a squad who appear ripe for further progress this season.

Keep an eye on Fabregas – you can be sure plenty of leading European clubs will be.

Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Plenty of new bosses with points to prove

The managerial merry-go-round has been in full swing in Serie A once again this summer.

It has a period of major upheaval for many clubs, with managers leaving and joining different sides ahead of the new campaign.

Fiorentina, Inter Milan, Parma, AC Milan, Roma, Atalanta, Lazio, Cagliari, Torino, Lecce, Pisa and Cremonese have all made changes in the dug-out this summer.

Maurizio Sarri has returned to Lazio, Cristian Chivu has replaced Simone Inzaghi at Inter while Massimiliano Allegri is back at Milan.

Conte, meanwhile, decided to stay at Napoli despite interest coming Juventus, as the Bianconeri confirmed Igor Tudor as head coach after he replaced Thiago Motta during the past season.

As always in Serie A, the pressure will be on all 20 managers when the campaign kicks off. 

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