The three most improved Serie A sides

The transfer window for Serie A will shut earlier this season on 18 August. In response to this, the bulk of clubs in Italy’s top flight have worked quickly and have seemingly already gotten the majority of their business wrapped up for the summer. Given this, the look and shape of many sides in Serie A have already taken shape: so let’s look at the top three sides, in no particular order, who have improved the most so far this summer.

Genoa
Genoa were extremely poor last season in several areas. They managed to keep-hold of their top-flight status by six points as they finished twelfth in a very poor group in the lower half of the Serie A table. Entering the summer, the biggest area of need for il Grifone was in the centre of the pitch, where they struggled the entire season with a lack of quality. Genoa managed to score only 33 league goals in the 2017/2018 campaign and at the root of this issue was the lack of service and quality in the midfield. They’ve managed to bring in former Spurs midfielder Sandro, Romulo from Verona, and former Roma youth product Luca Mazzitelli. While these aren’t headline-worthy names, they are certainly stronger than the likes of Isaac Cofie and Miguel Veloso. Mazzitelli has the potential to become a very strong player if given consistent opportunities.

Inter
The Nerazzurri managed to nab Stefan de Vrij and Juventus left back Kwadwo Asamoah on free transfers, both of which are sensational pieces of business by all measures, while also adding Radja Nainggolan from Roma. Despite the Belgian coming off his worst season in the Italian capital, the former Cagliari man had his best statistical campaign under Luciano Spalletti when the pair were together at the club in 2016/2017. Nainggolan will certainly slot into the #10 role in Spalletti’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation and could potentially rediscover his world class form, making him a risk worth taking. With Champions League football awaiting the Milan-based club this season, they have managed to reinforce well and, on paper, appear ready to compete on three fronts.

Juventus
It appears to be Champions League or bust. Adding arguably the best player in the world in Cristiano Ronaldo to a seven-consecutive Scudetto winning side takes the Bianconeri from “very strong” to one of the best in the world. Add Mattia Caldara, Leonardo Spinazzola, and Joao Cancelo to the list, and Juve have seemingly addressed all of their areas of need entering the summer. Given the acquisitions both in attack and defence Juve have brought in this summer, Max Allegri now has a bevy of options he can use while also having the ability to field a strong side regardless of if he opts for three or four at the back.

Honorable mentions

Roma
They’ve reinforced the midfield with Javier Pastore and Bryan Cristante. Ivan Marcano is a strong alternative in defence while Justin Kluivert has all the tools to become a very strong attacker.

Cagliari
Lucas Castro adds much-needed quality to the midfield while Darijo Srna still looks like he can give something despite being 36 years old.

Frosinone
Marco Sportiello gives the newly promoted side a legitimate shot-stopper with plenty of quality. Lorenzo Crisetig is also a good reinforcement in the middle but they still have work to do if they want to confirm their top-flight status.

Napoli
Simone Verdi and Fabian Ruiz are two strong reinforcements, though, Carlo Ancelotti could prove to be the most important acquisition.

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