Newcastle are reportedly interested in Juventus defender Nicolò Savona, but what kind of defender is the 22-year-old, and where can he be deployed?

When ex-Juventus coach Thiago Motta gave Savona his senior debut last season, not many were familiar with the qualities and skill sets of the 22-year-old defender, who ended up making 40 appearances in his first senior season in Turin, grabbing two goals and one assist.

Savona mostly played as a right-back in the first part of the 2024-25 season, but when Motta was sacked in March, his replacement, Igor Tudor, also deployed Savona as a right centre-back in a three-man defence.

Born in Aosta on March 19, 2003, Savona joined the Juventus Academy from Aygreville in 2019 and played for the Old Lady’s U17, U19 and NextGen squad, making his debut in the first official game of last season, coming on as a substitute during the half-time break in a 3-0 win against Como.

Savona’s first Serie A goal

The Italian defender scored his first Serie A goal just one week later, in another 3-0 win against Hellas Verona at the Stadio Bentegodi.

Motta often picked Savona over Juventus veteran and ex-Bianconeri captain Danilo, ultimately prompting the Brazilian defender to leave Turin in the January transfer window.

Savona’s positive performances in the first part of the season also earned him his first senior Italy call-up in November 2024 for games against Belgium and France, in which, however, the versatile Juventus defender didn’t feature.

During that International break, Savona crossed paths with Newcastle star Sandro Tonali, who was also part of the Azzurri squad.

At 22, Savona clearly has room for improvement, but his physicality makes him an excellent prospect, especially for the right-back position.

Savona’s first full Serie A season at Juventus

Savona provides balance to the team, but can be even more decisive in the final third, where his decision-making needs improvement. The Italian averaged 83% accurate passes in the opposition half in the 2024-25 Serie A matches, but only created two big chances in league games, according to Sofascore.

His displays in a three-man defence under Tudor were not entirely convincing, as his man-marking abilities are not as advanced as those of other Italian defenders.

As Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy will resume their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign in September, Football Italia looks at five players who’ll be looking for a call-up after their recent transfers.

Earlier this week, Football Italia predicted five highly-rated Azzurri players who may be leaving their current clubs this summer, as some of their compatriots have already done.

There have been moves within Serie A clubs, returns or departures from Italy’s top flight, so here are five Italian players who have already joined a new club for 2025-26 and whether they could play for Gattuso starting September.

Diego Coppola from Verona to Brighton

It was one of the first transfers completed this summer,r and it arguably happened at the peak of Coppola’s career so far. The 21-year-old had just completed his first full season in Serie A and made his first two appearances at a senior level with the Azzurri. Coppola completed a move to Brighton at the start of June for around €12m and will surely be one of the players monitored by Gattuso during his tenure, although the promising defender will need solid performances in the Premier League to become a starter in the Azzurri back-line.

Matteo Ruggeri from Atalanta to Atletico Madrid

The Colchoneros had chased Milan’s Theo Hernandez and Liverpool’s Andy Robertson before picking the Italian left-back, who has yet to make his senior debut with the Azzurri. Atletico secured Ruggeri’s services for circa €17m and the defender’s path in Spain is undoubtedly one to watch during the 2025-26 campaign. Ruggeri was called up by Gattuso’s predecessor, Luciano Spalletti, once in March 2025, but has yet to make his senior Azzurri debut. The big question is: will he be able to beat competition from Destiny Udogie and Federico Dimarco down the left flank?

Mateo Retegui from Atalanta to Al-Qadsiah

The deal has not been announced yet, but the latest top Serie A goalscorer is set to join the Saudi side for circa €70m. Naturally, there are doubts on whether the Argentine-born forward can retain a regular spot in the Azzurri squad, but according to Gazzetta, Gattuso is not considering dropping the 26-year-old, who has six international goals in 20 Azzurri appearances.

Ciro Immobile from Besiktas to Bologna

This time around, it’s not a player leaving Serie A, but one returning to Italy’s top flight on a free transfer. Immobile, the best scorer in Lazio’s history, left Besiktas after just one season to join Bologna. A Euro 2020 winner, the 35-year-old has admitted that he hasn’t spoken to Gattuso, suggesting that he’s not part of the coach’s plans, but there’s just one way to possibly persuade Ringhio to change his mind: score as many goals as possible at the Dall’Ara. Ciro surely knows the way to go, having netted 201 times in 353 matches in Italy’s top flight.

Samuele Ricci from Torino to Milan

Barely 120 km separate Turin and Milan, but the journey Ricci has embarked on goes beyond that distance. His €25m move to Milan is surely the most significant step in his career, especially considering that he had become a semi-regular Italy starter under Spalletti after last summer’s depressing Euros, in which he had not participated. Contrary to Immobile, Gattuso did call Ricci after his appointment as Italy bos,s so the ex-Torino star is expected to be part of the Azzurri squad in September when La Nazionale will face Estonia and Israel in crucial World Cup qualifying games.

Juventus suffered a 1-0 loss against Real Madrid in the Club World Cup Round of 16, with their goalkeeper, Michele Di Gregorio, being named Football Italia’s Man of the Match.

Juventus player ratings

Di Gregorio 8 – Kept Juventus in the game with some crucial interventions, ten in total. The best one was probably a full-stretch save to deny Federico Valverde in the first half, but he was even busier after the break. One of the best Juventus players in the Club World Cup.

Kalulu 5 – Didn’t win many duels, and Real Madrid were often dangerous, producing 21 total shots. Too much to handle for the Frenchman.

Rugani 5.5 – Real Madrid strikers gave him a headache, especially in the second half. He hadn’t played for Juventus for over a year; it was hard to expect more than this (86′ Gatti N/A).

Kelly 5 – A poor clearance paved the way for Real Madrid’s opener, but it wasn’t just his fault. Still lacking confidence, left the pitch injured (59′ Nico Gonzalez 5.5).

Alberto 5 – The Portuguese naturally struggled in one-v-one situations against Vini Jr, especially when he dropped in a three-man defence. Didn’t push much down the right flank.

Locatelli 6 – Don’t expect many key passes from him, but neither will there be many mistakes. Juventus may need more quality in central midfield, but surely he wasn’t the weakest starter. (86′ McKennie N/A)

Thuram 6.5 – By far the best Juventus central midfielder. Great physicality and reading of the game, and only missed three passes from 54 (via Sofascore).

Cambiaso 6 – Started the game on the left flank and finished on the right. You can tell he’s one of the most technically gifted players on the team, but he must turn it into quality passes and create more chances.

Conceiçao 5.5 – One shot on target, but it was not the house’s speciality as his header was blocked by Courtois (59′ Kostic 5.5).

Yildiz 6.5 – Everything Juventus created came from him, including the best chance of the match for Kolo Muani. He didn’t seem too happy when he was subbed off (70′ Koopmeiners 5.5).

Kolo Muani 5 – Involved in the build-play with quality, but he missed a massive chance in the first half. He had to score in front of Courtois, with or without a chip shot.

Coach Tudor 5.5 – At least there was a reaction after the heavy defeat against Manchester City. The opening 30 minutes were really positive, but then Madrid’s quality emerged and the Merengues would have deserved to score more than once. Tudor’s Juventus conceded another headed goal. It had happened ten times in Serie A in 2024-25. One of the things to fix next season.

Real Madrid: Courtois 6; Alexander-Arnold 6, Rüdiger 6.5, Huijsen 6.5, Fran García 6.5; Valverde 7.5 (90′ Ceballos N/A), Tchouameni 7, Bellingham 6.5; Arda Güler 7 (78′ Modric N/A), Gonzalo 7 (68′ Mbappé 6.5), Vinicius 7. Coach: Tudor.

The very public spat between Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu feels like the most suitable ending to a dismal season for Inter, writes Susy Campanale.

Perhaps Cristian Chivu should thank Lautaro Martinez for managing to completely overshadow the Club World Cup elimination at the hands of Fluminense. The captain’s post-match statements aimed squarely at want-away teammate Calhanoglu distracted everyone from another awful performance, one that confirmed this squad is at the end of a very long road.

Simone Inzaghi saw the writing on the wall long before the 5-0 Champions League Final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, just as Calhanoglu can see it is the ideal time to move on. It has been a strong four years for the Nerazzurri, winning the Scudetto, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italia and reaching two Champions League Finals. You could argue Inzaghi should’ve had more than one Serie A title considering it was easily the strongest squad in the tournament over those four years, but progressing so far in Europe on that budget is not to be underestimated.

All good things must come to an end, and this Inter team has for months looked like it is running on empty. A long rest – which they won’t get anyway thanks to the Club World Cup participation, albeit brief – won’t be enough to refresh those batteries. This is an ageing squad that gave its all and is in dire need of a revamp to start anew.

Lautaro Martinez clinging to Inter past

Not everyone can see that, though, as Lautaro Martinez is clinging to an idea they all go down with the ship. He is helping nobody with this open attack on Calhanoglu, least of all the club, and the insults are entirely unwarranted. It’s only natural that Calhanoglu wants to join Galatasaray, a club he grew up supporting, and has done nothing to publicly push for the transfer when he had more than enough opportunities to do so.

He crossed the divide from Milan to Inter for free, revitalised his career in a brand new role, and helped the team win several trophies. What more can they ask of him? It is time to move on and make Inter slightly less predictable in its dependency on the Turkish midfielder.

Lautaro Martinez thinks he is defending Inter’s honour by lashing out at a teammate, but he needs to realise that this is what modern football represents. The Argentine is now a true rarity in his steadfast commitment to the club colours, and he must not expect others to be similarly passionate when they haven’t been there as long as him.

Calhanoglu has every right to want a new experience and hope an agreement can be reached. He has gone about this in a much classier way than most would in his position. In his attempt to take a stand, Lautaro Martinez just made it all far more difficult to ensure it is an amicable parting.

Igor Tudor feels Juventus need three reinforcements to become credible title contenders next season, but a 5-2 loss against Manchester City proved the Bianconeri will require more new faces.

Juventus faced a brutal reality check on Thursday, suffering a 5-2 loss to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. The Bianconeri had already qualified for the Club World Cup Round of 16 following victories against Al Ain and Wydad and only needed a draw to win Group G.

Even if Juventus had beaten Manchester City in the Champions League in November under Thiago Motta, the Premier League giants’ latest win wasn’t really surprising, except for the scale of their triumph.

The scoreline says everything you know about the game, even more than Man City’s 24 shots against Juventus’ five and the seven Michele Di Gregorio’s saves against Ederson’s none.

True, Igor Tudor had rotated the team considerably, starting a few key players on the bench, including Kenan Yildiz, Randal Kolo Muani, and Andrea Cambiaso, and giving, perhaps, a final chance to the struggling Teun Koopmeiners, Nico Gonzalez, and Dusan Vlahovic.

Tudor reiterated at the start of the Club World Cup, and even before that, after the final Serie A match of the season, against Venezia, that the Bianconeri would need three new signings to be genuine title contenders next season.

Nevertheless, the result and the performance against Manchester City suggest otherwise.

What Juventus need in defence and midfield

Gleison Bremer will be like a new signing in defence, returning to action after a tricky ligament injury sustained in October. However, if Pierre Kalulu is the starting right central defender in a 3-4-2-1 formation, then the Bianconeri will need a new face at the back unless Federico Gatti is used on the left-hand side of the backline or the inconsistent Lloyd Kelly is tasked with the job.

Moving into the midfield department, Juventus will surely need a right or left wing-back as Andrea Cambiaso can play on either flank. On the right, Alberto Costa showed decent developments, especially in the final third of the pitch during the Club World Cup, but his performance against Manchester City suggests he still has a lot of work to do defensively.

Nico Gonzalez was one of the wingers signed with Thiago Motta last summer, but the Argentine is struggling to adapt to a right-wing-back position with more defensive duties than a custom attacking winger, and has also failed to deliver consistently as an attacking midfielder, contrary to Francisco Conceiçao.

In central midfield, Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram appear to be the designated starters, but Juventus need more quality in the core of the pitch, and considering an upgrade on Locatelli should not be out of question. Could Teun Koopmeiners be the man replacing Locatelli as the team’s playmaker? Debatable, mainly because the Dutchman has played five of his six games under Tudor as an attacking midfielder.

Kenan Yildiz will surely be the man to watch in Turin next season. In the game against Manchester City, he set up Dusan Vlahovic twice, seeing the Serbian waste the first chance and find the net with his second attempt. But who could partner Yildiz behind a lone striker? Yet again, Koopmeiners is an option, but he desperately needs to regain confidence and be more effective in front of the goal, while Conceiçao has shown good progress in the Club World Cup.

Kolo Muani key to Juventus transfer strategy in attack

Nevertheless, the Portuguese is on loan at Juventus, who must pay €30m to make his move permanent from Porto. According to Gazzetta, the number one alternative to Chico is Manchester United’s outcast Jadon Sancho.

Last but not least, there’s the attack. Yet again, Kolo Muani is on loan from PSG until the end of the Club World Cup, and Juventus must negotiate a longer deal with the Ligue 1 giants, knowing that the France international would be glad to stay at the Allianz Stadium. On the other hand, Vlahovic is tipped to leave as his contract expires in 2026 and he has shown no desire to continue with the Old Lady.

This means Juventus will need one new centre forward if Kolo Muani stays, otherwise they’ll be looking for two central strikers.

The main name linked with a move to Juventus these days is Jonathan David, who has already reached an agreement with the Serie A giants but is waiting for his representatives to finalise the details regarding agent fees.

With the Bianconeri competing in three competitions again next season, including the Champions League, it’s predictable that they’ll need at least four or five new signings to be competitive again in 2025-26. The latest defeat against Manchester City clearly showed that many of those who started the game can’t be offered a guaranteed spot in the Bianconeri’s XI next season.

Milan have been strongly linked with a move for Club Brugge midfielder Ardon Jashari as the club seek reinforcements after a disappointing 2024-25 Serie A campaign saw the Rossoneri finish in eighth place.

With new head coach Massimiliano Allegri at the helm and stars such as Tijjani Reijnders and Theo Hernandez leaving the club, it will be a pivotal summer transfer window.

Jashari is one such player who Milan have identified as a top target – but what makes the 22-year-old Swiss international so appealing to Allegri, Igli Tare and the Rossoneri?

Jashari impresses in 2024-25 for Club Brugge

When it comes to defining a ‘good season’, to say Jashari had one is a massive understatement. The 22-year-old played a pivotal role in Club Brugge’s domestic and continental endeavours.

Despite the Bruges side coming second in the Pro League, narrowly pipped to the title by three points by Union Saint-Gilloise, Jashari swept the two major individual awards. The Swiss midfielder was awarded both the ‘Player of the Season’ and ‘Young Player of the Season’.

In the Champions League, Jashari was vital in Club Brugge’s surprise run to the Round of 16. The Belgians defeated Atalanta 5-2 on aggregate in the play-off stage before being eliminated by Unai Emery’s Aston Villa in a heavy 6-1 aggregate defeat. Brugge surprised many in going so far in the competition and the former Luzern midfielder was instrumental in this success.

In all competitions for the Belgian club in 2024-25, Jashari contributed four goals and six assists in 52 appearances. However, goals and assists are not the main element of his play-style.

What would Jashari bring to Milan?

When thinking about what Ardon Jashari might bring to the Rossoneri, the obvious answer is the perfect replacement to fill the void left by Reijnders move to Manchester City.

Jashari, like Reijnders, is a tempo controlling centre-midfielder, able to play deeper as a classic number six or advancing up the pitch in a more ‘box-to-box’ fashion. The Swiss international displays strong press resistance and is as competent in winning the ball back as he is in playing line breaking passes which instigate attacks.

This makes him an ideal player for new head coach Allegri at Milan, with the former Juventus boss utilising intelligent midfielders that keep the ball and craft patient passing plays through the middle of the park. Jashari would, therefore, have the potential to become a key player as the Rossoneri look to rebuild for the future.

At just 22-years-old, Jashari also offers considerable potential for the future – as well as his ability making him ideal to fit right into the squad in the short-term.

The player wants to join Milan, reports from Italy confirming his desire to play in Rossoneri colours and an interview from the player himself in October last year stating that “playing at San Siro has always been my dream.”

Kenan Yildiz was the only positive note for Juventus in a 5-2 defeat against Manchester City in the Club World Cup.

Juventus player ratings

Di Gregorio 6 – Manchester City showed no mercy. At least he made a couple of saves with his feet and a final one on Rayan Cherki to avoid a humiliating sixth goal.

Kalulu 3.5 – An avoidable, to say the least, own goal. He should have been the leader of the defence; it wasn’t exactly what he showed.

Savona 4 – Once again playing out of position, Juventus paid a high price this time around. This heavy defeat is not entirely his fault, obviously. He even sustained what appeared to be an ugly ankle injury. (61′ Gatti 5).

Kelly 4 – Pep Guardiola’s strikers kept coming from all over the place and the ex-Newcastle man hardly found a way to stop them.

Alberto Costa 4 – Left too much space for Doku when City scored the opener. The first of many mistakes, with and without the ball. (57′ Cambiaso 5).

Locatelli 5 – Suffocated by the press and the quality of Manchester City players. Some good passes here and there, but far from what’s required to win games at this level. (57′ Thuram 5).

McKennie 4.5 – The American, tried to help the team all over the pitch, but only won a couple of duels, and the passing accuracy wasn’t the best. (71% via Sofascore) (82′ Adzic N/A).

Kostic 4 – Started his first Juventus game in over a year and looked like a fish out of water. Understandable, but only 60% accurate passes are not good enough.

Nico Gonzalez 4 – It’s becoming more and more difficult to find a space for the Argentine in Tudor’s XI. He’s a winger, not a wing-back, nor an attacking midfielder. No coincidence he didn’t leave his mark tonight. Far from it.

Koopmeiners 5 – Scored a rare goal in a Bianconeri shirt, and nothing more. (57′ Yildiz 7 – What an assist for Vlahovic).

Vlahovic 5 – The start was promising with a charming move down the right flank, but the other few touches he made (24 in total) slowed down the Juventus build-up rather than making it smooth. He had a big chance in the second half, but wasted it in front of Ederson after a lovely Yildiz through ball. At least, he didn’t miss the second one.

Coach: Tudor 4 – A reality check after convincing wins over Al Ain and Wydad. Juventus lost most duels and looked confused with and without the ball. True, many key players, including Yildiz, partially rested, but it’s not enough to justify such a collapse.

Manchester City: Ederson 5.5; Nunes 7, Akanji 6, Ruben Dias 6.5, Ait-Nouri 7 (75′ O’Riley 6); Rodri 7.5 (66′ Gundogan 6.5), Reijnders 7.5; Savinho 8, Bernardo Silva 7.5 (75′ Cherki 6), Doku 8 (66′ Foden 7.5); Marmoush 7 (46′ Haaland 7.5). Coach: Guardiola 7.

Now that the domestic season is over and the dust has settled, it’s time to reflect. While many of the top leagues lacked drama, the 2024-25 Serie A campaign was hugely exciting, with it going right down to the wire at both ends of the table as Napoli clinched the title right at the last, breaking the hearts of Inter fans, who with just a few games to go, thought their team had done enough to get over the line.

At the other end, Lecce left it late to save their season, climbing out of the bottom three by avoiding defeat in each of their last three games, sending Empoli back down to Serie B.

During the season, we saw some impressive individual performances, and not just from the big boys. This article highlights five slightly less obvious individuals who stood out during the course of the Serie A campaign, players who deserve a little more attention, players who proved they could likely excel at bigger clubs.

Assane Diao (Como)

Earlier this year, 19-year-old Assane Diao was considered surplus to requirements at Real Betis, prompting a January switch to Como and what a switch it turned out to be for Cesc Fabregas’ team.

Strong, powerful and wonderfully direct, Diao, who had struggled for game time in LaLiga, hit the ground running in Serie A, scoring against giants AC Milan in just his second game, before adding another in the very next game against Udinese.

Rapidly developing a knack for scoring in big games, it wasn’t long before the Senegalese forward notched against both Juventus and Napoli, before ending the campaign on eight goals, averaging a hugely impressive 0.58 goals per 90 minutes. He’s definitely a player to watch out for next season.

Aarón Martín (Genoa)

28-year-old Aarón Martín probably won’t be the first name that people think of when talking about Serie A’s best, but the Genoa full-back enjoyed an excellent campaign. Interestingly, only AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic made more key passes (= passes leading directly to a shot) than Martin this season, with the Spaniard regularly showing how creative he can be.

Martin’s eight assists certainly helped Genoa to avoid being seriously involved in the fight for survival, and as he looks set to remain at Luigi Ferraris Stadium, the full-back will be key to any relative success that Patrick Viera’s men enjoy next season.

Mario Gila (Lazio)

For Lazio, it was a solid campaign, with the Romans narrowly missing out on securing European football, finishing seventh. One of the standout performers for the men playing out of Rome’s Stadio Olimpico was central defender Mario Gila.

For much of the season, the Eagles were hard to beat, with Gila’s defensive efforts certainly not going unnoticed. Formerly of Real Madrid, the Spaniard, who is very comfortable with the ball at his feet, also helped Lazio to build attacks, ranking as one of the best players in the division in terms of pass completion, touches and progressive carries, often showing his ability to bring the ball out from the back.

Gila is still only 24, but after a very solid season, it wouldn’t be too surprising if he’s being watched by those with a bit more financial punching power than Lazio. If he remains in the capital, then his presence will undoubtedly help Maurizio Sarri’s men to break into the top six.

Nikola Krstovic (Lecce)

Thanks to a promising late run of results, Lecce narrowly beat the drop, keeping themselves in Italy’s top tier for another season, thanks in no small part to the contributions of forward Nikola Krstovic, whose efforts in the final third allowed the team from the Apulia region to just about get over the line.

The hard-working, all-action striker was a constant thorn in the side of opposition defences, scoring 11 and assisting five, averaging 0.47 goals and assists per 90 minutes, finishing the season as Serie A’s eighth-best player in terms of goals and assists combined. Not bad for a relegation-scrapping forward. Off the back of a fine season, the Montenegro forward could be in for a move, but if he remains, Lecce will have a decent chance of once again beating the drop.

Nicolás Paz (Como)

As touched on above, under the astute leadership of Cesc Fabregas, Como enjoyed a fantastic season in Italy’s top flight. January signing Diao certainly caught the eye during the latter part of the campaign, but all season long, Nicolás Paz was outstanding.

The young Argentine joined at the start of the campaign from Real Madrid, where he never really looked likely to feature as a first-team player, instantly becoming a key part of Fabregas’ well-oiled machine. A silky operator, Paz became Como’s go-to creator, ending the season as the fourth-best player in Serie A in terms of assists.

The 20-year-old, who averaged 0.47 goals and assists per 90 last season, looks set for a bright future and if Como can keep hold of him, then they’ll have every chance of being just as competitive next time around.

For data-driven, well-researched Serie A betting tips and match previews, check out FIRST.com

Going from Claudio Ranieri to Gennaro Gattuso as ideas for the new Italy coach is proof the Federation is in utter chaos, warns Susy Campanale.

The meme of Ranieri’s face lighting up the night sky like the Batsignal really did sum up the situation, as the Nazionale is in dire need of rescuing. Sadly, and much like Batman himself, Sir Claudio knows this is a battle too far and he really does want to take that well-earned retirement. We cannot begrudge him that. The real problem was not calling him in earlier, when he might’ve still been convinced to take over.

Ranieri would’ve been perfect for the role for the very same reasons that Gattuso would be a complete and utter disaster. One man works to build the confidence of his players, unites the fans and press around him in a family atmosphere, adapts to the characteristics of the squad at his disposal, and focuses on the simple tactical concepts that can be taught quickly and easily.

The other has created tension at every club, gets into shouting matches with reporters and refuses to talk to specific ones, has never really succeeded at any team, and seems focused more on demanding grit than setting out a real game plan.

Gattuso has not proved himself a fine coach

Simply being part of the squad that won the 2006 World Cup is not sufficient to automatically become a fine coach. We’ve seen quite a few of those crash and burn, while others struggle to be in any way convincing, like Fabio Cannavaro.

Let’s be honest here, most of the jobs Gattuso got at club level have been thanks to his reputation as a player, because they were all short-lived and unimpressive. The only time he completed two full seasons anywhere was Pisa in Serie C and B from 2015 to 2017. His only piece of silverware as a manager was the 2020 Coppa Italia at Napoli.

I realise they want Gattuso to come in, slap some players and get them fired up after the sluggish performances under Spalletti, but this is the wrong approach. Piling pressure on them was precisely what caused that reaction, as Spalletti himself confessed and Gigi Buffon had spotted. This is a team with morale at rock bottom that needs to be coaxed, cuddled and brought back to life. Not shouted at and manhandled.

If the Federation is flying from one extreme to another, from Ranieri to Gattuso, it means they have no clear idea on what kind of strategy they want. A father (maybe even grandfather) figure, or an argumentative drill sergeant? Rino’s approach to man-management is about as far from Ranieri’s gentle touch as you can get.

De Rossi might be a middle ground

If they really must go for a 2006 World Cup winner, then at least find a level between the two and go for Daniele De Rossi. His dismissal at Roma was unjust and entirely unnecessary, he can be both nurturing and shout from the sidelines when he has to, and he actually worked with Roberto Mancini in the Italy staff at that victorious EURO 2020 tournament. You can also bet he’d turn to Ranieri for advice, putting up the Batsignal in times of need.

De Rossi would at least feel like there was some logical progress from one choice to the other, whereas Gattuso is a sign they’re just throwing names into a hat and hoping for the best. That’s what got us into this mess in the first place.

Italy secured a 2-0 win over Moldova in their second World Cup qualifying match, with Giacomo Raspadori resulting in Football Italia’s MOTM.

Italy player Ratings

Donnarumma 6 – A crucial save on Reabciuk just a minute after Raspadori’s opener. A poor pass in the stoppages could have proved costly.

Di Lorenzo 6 – Spalletti’s Fedelissimo was always destined to start in the coach’s final game. A balanced match, nothing more, nothing less.

Bastoni 6 – Often reproached by Spalletti, the Inter star was excellent with the ball at his feet, but only won one aerial duel from four (via Sofascore).

Ranieri 6.5 – Italy debut for the Fiorentina defender. Contributed to Raspadori’s opener with a cross from the left. Injured in the final minutes, he was forced to be subbed off. (83′ Coppola 7)

Cambiaso 6.5 – In love with the ball. Far from his best version, but two of his three dribbles were successful, and he also scored the second for the Azzurri.

Frattesi 6 – His trademark late runs produced some chances for the Azzurri. The Inter defender had his best chance in the second half, but his shot from a good position was saved.

Ricci 6.5 – 92% accurate passes and four ground duels won from five. Easy, given that Moldova didn’t press much? Maybe, but resting him in Norway surely wasn’t the best idea. (46′ Barella 6)

Tonali 6.5 – The Newcastle star covered two different roles as he became the Italy playmaker in the second half when Barella replaced Ricci.

Dimarco 6 – Just two accurate crosses from ten, a goal-line clearance before the break was the highlight of his performance. He wasn’t always in the best position to put the ball in. No coincidence that his replacement provided an assist with one of the first touches. (46′ Orsolini 7)

Retegui 5.5 – Kept Moldova defenders busy with his physicality inside the box, but didn’t have many big chances. Difficult, with just 26 touches. (71′ Lucca 6).

Raspadori 7 – Broke the deadlock and appeared to dedicate his goal to Spalletti. Inspired Italy’s attacks with three key passes. (76′ Maldini N/A)

Coach: Spalletti 6 – Spent the whole game in front of his bench, giving the final instructions to his players and seeming discouraged at times. Italy won the game, but a lack of unity was still evident from this match. Parting ways was the right thing; the timing and manner remain debatable.

Moldova: Avram 7; Baboglo 5.5, Mudrac 5.5, Dumbravanu 5.5; Platica 6, Ionita 6 (72′ Dros 6), Bodisteanu 5.5 (58′ Motpan 6), Reabciuk 6.5; Caimacov 6 (65′ Stina 5.5), Nicolaescu 6.5 (72′ Damascan 6), Postolachi 5.5 (65′ Perciun). Coach: Cleșcenco 6.

The latest non-performance in Norway proves Luciano Spalletti is wholly unsuited to the role of Italy coach, writes Susy Campanale.

There was a sense of impending doom about the Italy camp going into Oslo. Even if you weren’t expecting them to be 3-0 down by half-time, the end result was still not entirely surprising in the circumstances. And this is why Luciano Spalletti simply is not the right man for this job.

With all the comments coaches make about needing to be part tactician, part psychologist, you forget that this is an essential part of the role and one that becomes much more difficult when you only have a few days to work with the players. Spalletti always was rather heavy-handed with his idea of man-management, as seen in the Francesco Totti debacle at Roma. Even though Napoli won the Scudetto, don’t forget they started to risk fumbling it in the final weeks when he poured on the syrup about it meaning the world to a whole city, generations of whom had never experienced a title success.

Spalletti too heavy-handed with fragile Italy

You might not realise this because we translate it all, but Spalletti has a very odd speaking style that is frankly infuriating. He talks and talks while saying practically nothing at all, spewing out words with no real sentences, leading to confusing and often conflicting messages. In the build-up to the Norway match, he both declared players “understand the importance of this match” and that they should “play without pressure.” He had to pick one and ended up doing neither. And that is his approach to this Italy tenure in a nutshell.

He changed his tactics from 4-3-3 to a 3-5-2 in order to reflect the players at his disposal and their usual positions at club level. That is good. He then failed to adapt when most of those players were unavailable due to various reasons, meaning once again square pegs were rammed into round holes, the system dictating the shape rather than the characteristics of his squad. That’s bad. The focus remains on dominating possession, but they forget the purpose of keeping the ball is to create scoring opportunities. We saw none of those in Oslo.

Spalletti had very similar statements before the embarrassing non-performance against Switzerland in EURO 2024 and that is what the defeat to Norway most resembled. It goes beyond tactics, player picks, even motivational speeches. This is a team that disappears into the ether, like a half-remembered daydream. It has no substance, nothing at all to fall back on when the going gets tough.

Italy must acknowledge changing landscape

Let us also not beat around the bush here. This is a severely weakened group of players to be choosing from, so the fact we went into Oslo with a debutant Hellas Verona defender and a right-back in a three-man defence, with Davide Zappacosta making his return to the Italy squad after seven years, is a genuine concern.

Francesco Acerbi’s temper tantrum did nobody any favours, including him, but the one bright spot we can take from the 3-0 defeat is that Diego Coppola can be relied upon. He was probably the best player on the pitch for Italy last night.

It was unsurprising the Inter players were still visibly traumatised from the Champions League Final mauling, so while giving them the opportunity to make up for it felt like an idea in principle, any good man-manager could see they were just going to crumble at the first setback. Piling yet more pressure on them was unfair and bound to backfire.

This is a football nation that has been left in limbo by recent events. Italy are one of the great soccer schools, lifting four World Cup trophies, winning the European Championship as recently as 2021. At the same time, they have now failed to qualify for two consecutive World Cup tournaments and at this rate severely risk making it a hat-trick.

We need to find a coach who can restore some sense of identity and purpose, because right now, there is none. This Azzurri side is floundering in uncertainty, unsure where it belongs on the world stage, or even just on the pitch.

Spalletti was the only available option when Roberto Mancini flounced off seeking Saudi Arabian money, but wholly unsuited to the role. He might be starting to realise that too.

Italy’s journey in the World Cup qualifiers started in the worst possible way, with the Azzurri losing 3-0 in Norway and looking tragically similar to the team eliminated at the Euros last summer.

Donnarumma 6 – One save at the near post in the opening minutes. Couldn’t do much to avoid Norway’s goals.

Di Lorenzo 4 – The whole defensive department was disjointed, and Di Lorenzo made way too many wrong decisions. It must be pretty clear now that he may not be a good fit in a three-man defence.

Coppola 5 – Given the toughest possible debut against Haaland. The Verona defender won almost all duels, but was too focused on the Manchester City star when Norway scored the second, with Nusa finding too much space down the middle.

Bastoni 4 – Another nightmare night. Kept Sorloth in play for Norway’s first goal. He was on the pitch for Inter less than a week ago in the Champions League Final. Saw his teams concede eight times in the last two games. Surely can’t wait for the end of the season, but there’s still a Club World Cup to play with Inter.

Zappacosta 4.5 – He was never dangerous on the right flank and sometimes left the Azzurri exposed. (72′ Orsolini 5.5)

Barella 4.5 – Exhausted, like most Italian players.

Rovella 4 – Too weak defensively, good passing accuracy (95% via Sofascore), but all at a terribly slow tempo. (46′ Frattesi 5)

Tonali 4.5 – Not sure if he should have played as a playmaker or box-to-box midfielder. The Newcastle star looked confused, but surely wasn’t the only one.

Udogie 4.5 – Not a single accurate cross, wasn’t always quite sure on whether to attack or defend. (83′ Dimarco N/A)

Raspadori 4.5 – Tried to link up the play, but lacked quality and speed. (83′ Ricci N/A)

Retegui 4.5 – He always played with his back to the goal, but it wasn’t entirely his fault. (72′ Lucca N/A)

Coach: Spalletti 3 – The first shot on target was from Lucca at minute 92. An empty team. The Azzurri maintained possession, but only because the opponents allowed us to do so. Italy were slow with and without the ball, and most worryingly, they didn’t show any reaction. Too similar to the performance against Switzerland at the Euros.

Norway: Nyland 6; Ryerson 7, Ajer 7.5, Heggem 7 (71′ Ostigard 6.5), Moller Wolfe 7.5 (75′ Pedersen 6.5); Odegaard 8.5, Berge 7.5, Thorsby 7.5 (46′ Berg 7), Nusa 9 (75′ Bobb 6.5); Sorloth 8 (83′ Larsen N/A), Haaland 8. Coach: Solbakken 8.

Simone Inzaghi has left Inter after winning six trophies in four years, and even if he should have achieved even more, especially in Serie A, the Nerazzurri should be grateful, writes Lorenzo Bettoni.

Inzaghi left Italy this morning, ready to start a new chapter of his life at Al-Hilal, who will make him one of the highest-paid coaches in the world with a €25m-a-year contract and a signing bonus of at least €4m.

There have been, obviously, plenty of reactions to Inzaghi’s Inter farewell, and Gazzetta was perhaps among the harshest on the ex-Nerazzurri boss.

• Read more – Sacchi: ‘I can’t say’ Inzaghi’s Inter journey ‘was a success’

The pink paper’s editor, Stefano Barigelli, said Inter gave more to Inzaghi than the other way around. Another comment from Sebastiano Vernazza was even harsher, as he highlighted all the trophies Inzaghi failed to win at San Siro.

It’s not just about the two Champions League Finals the Nerazzurri lost during his tenure. It’s more about the Serie A titles won by Napoli (twice) and Milan during Inzaghi’s stay at Inter.

Forget about the latest humiliation at the hands of PSG. It’s undeniable that Inzaghi has wasted some good opportunities to fill Inter’s trophy cabinet with more Serie A titles, especially in 2022 and this season.

Three years ago, Stefano Pioli’s Milan lifted the Scudetto with 86 points. This time around, Antonio Conte’s Napoli triumphed with even less, 83.

Inzaghi has proved to be an excellent tactician, but perhaps not a great motivator. Nevertheless, leaving the club with six trophies in four years is still a commendable achievement. Three of those trophies were Supercoppa Italiana, but one was a historic Scudetto, the 20th for the club, won with five games to spare in a derby against Milan.

Equally importantly, Inter’s playing style has been improving over the years despite a transfer budget inferior to many of their direct rivals.

Don’t forget that Inzaghi took over from Antonio Conte in 2021, accepting the coaching role despite the sales of Achraf Hakimi and Romelu Lukaku.

Inter were navigating a financial crisis that had been very much alive until last year, when Oaktree ultimately took control from Suning. Despite the storm, Inzaghi managed to develop the team’s playing style and secure a decent number of trophies.

Has he lost more than he won? Maybe. Does this mean his spell at Inter was not positive? Absolutely not.

Inter were considered one of the best clubs in Europe this season, so seeing them reach the Champions League Final was not entirely surprising.

However, fulfilling the same accomplishment two years ago was not only unexpected, but it also left plenty of regrets after a narrow defeat against the best team in Europe at that time, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

The way Inzaghi left, announcing his decision with a quick meeting three days after the Champions League Final humiliation, surely left a bitter taste in the mouths of Inter fans and some media, but this should not cancel the fact that he was the best coach the Nerazzurri could have had over the last four years.

The timing was also not ideal, as Inter are now in a difficult position, given that the best coaches have already secured their seats for next season and their primary candidate, Cesc Fabregas, seems unwilling to leave Como.

Besides the six trophies, Inzaghi developed the team and helped many of its players reach their peak, especially Marcus Thuram, Lautaro Martínez, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, and Federico Dimarco.

The Demone di Piacenza won fewer trophies than he was supposed to, but Inter gained value on and off the pitch thanks to their former coach, and for this reason, the fans and the club should always be grateful.

@lorebetto

Inter suffered the heaviest loss in a major European Final against PSG, but the financial gap between the two sides is not enough to explain the Nerazzurri’s disaster, writes Lorenzo Bettoni.

PSG coach Luis Enrique saw a lesson for kids from the Nerazzurri as the Serie A giants remained on the pitch to witness their rivals lift the coveted trophy in Munich last night.

Too bad that it was Luis Enrique’s team to give a lesson to the Nerazzurri in the previous 90 minutes, giving them the heaviest defeat in a major European Final.

Many fans and pundits tried to explain the disastrous Inter result by mentioning the financial gap between the Nerazzurri and PSG, but in all honesty, there is much more behind that.

The financial gap between Inter and PSG

As reported by EiF, Inter’s €150m wage bill for the current campaign is significantly lower than PSG’s €650m, and the amount invested in transfers over the last two years was also substantially different. The Ligue 1 giants invested €700m against Inter’s €150m.

The Nerazzurri signed mostly experienced free agents over the last few years, but President Beppe Marotta has already announced that their strategy will change this summer.

Again, however, the money spent on wages or transfers doesn’t necessarily explain the difference seen on the pitch on Saturday.

Only one month ago, Inter were dreaming of another legendary treble, 15 years after José Mourinho’s accomplishment, but consecutive losses against Bologna, Milan, and Roma were the beginning of the end.

Inter played 59 games in the 2024-25 season, with at least three more scheduled for the Club World Cup. It’s been an exhausting campaign which could have given everything to the Nerazzurri, but eventually they ended up with nothing in their hands.

Inter finish the season empty-handed

The psychological and physical aspects clearly played a significant role in the Serie A title race and last night’s Champions League Final as well.

Napoli’s accomplishment was terrific, but don’t forget the Partenopei won the second Scudetto in three years with just 82 points.

In the final weeks of the season, especially after an epic Champions League Final against Barcelona, Inter went all in on the European trophy, even if they still had a chance to win the Scudetto.

They could have overtaken Napoli in the penultimate league game, but they gave away a penalty kick in the final minutes against Lazio, setting the result to a 2-2 draw, while Napoli were held to a 0-0 stalemate at Parma.

At some point, Inter players felt they were the best in the team in the league, rightly so. Henrikh Mkhitaryan even said the Nerazzurri were ‘unplayable’ midway through the season, but a few months later, they found themselves with no trophies in their hands and one big game to save the season.

Too much pressure for Champions League win

Luis Enrique explained after the game last night that his focus on the build-up to the Final was mainly to release the pressure on the team, as the whole city of Paris was impatiently waiting for the match.

What happened at Inter was exactly the opposite. Even before the Serie A title was gone, they put all their focus and commitment on the Champions League.

There’s a video of Inzaghi’s assistant Massimiliano Farris telling Denzel Dumfries after the last Serie A game against Como: “It was not today, we’ll pick up that thing in Munich.” This alone sums up the Inter spirit going into the match.

Perhaps, approaching the final with a trophy would have helped Inter play the game with less pressure, while it was clear from the very beginning last night that the mental stress they had to withstand was even heavier than PSG’s pressing on the pitch.

Ultimately, the Nerazzurri were disintegrated and will now have to rebuild and rejuvenate the team, despite the Club World Cup starting in just a few days.

Inter

Sommer 5 – Not to be blamed for any particular PSG goal, except the last one.

Pavard 5 – Overwhelmed by PSG’s attacks. He showed a little reaction in the second part of the first half with some decent forward runs. (54′ Bisseck N/A 62′ – Darmian 5)

Acerbi 4 – PSG didn’t give any point of reference in attack, and he struggled terribly.

Bastoni 4.5 – Doué gave him a hard time from start to finish. Dimarco suffered even more.

Dumfries 4.5 – One of Inter’s best players this season, he didn’t have time or space for his trademark forward runs today. Kvara’s defensive work was impeccable.

Barella 4 – Didn’t defend the ball in the build-up to PSG’s second goal, sparking the French team’s counter-attack. Confused like all Inter players.

• Read more – Champions League Final | PSG 5-0 Inter: Nerazzurri crushed in Munich

Calhanoglu 4 – PSG’s domination began in central midfield and Calha only completed 79% passes (via Sofascore). A nightmare night.  (70′ Asllani 5)

Mkhitaryan 4 – Suffocated by PSG’s quality and pressing. (62′ Carlos Augusto 5)

Dimarco 3.5 – Kept Hakimi in line for PSG’s opening goal and turned his back on Doué for the second one. It all went uphill since. A die-hard Inter fan, surely he felt more pressure than some of his teammates. (54′ Zalewski 5)

Lautaro Martinez 4 – He was supposed to lead the Inter attack, but didn’t find space against an excellent Marquinhos who followed him all over the pitch.

Thuram 5 – Only had one chance, but the game was practically over.

Coach: Inzaghi 4 – Inter’s approach was the most disappointing thing of the night. The game was over after 20 minutes and his substitutions in the second half didn’t make much sense.

PSG: Donnarumma 6.5; Hakimi 7, Marquinhos 8, Pacho 7, Nuno Mendes 7.5 (78′ Hernandez N/A); Joao Neves 8, Vitinha 9, Fabian Ruiz 8; Doué 10 (66′ Barcola 7), Dembélé 9, Kvaratskhelia 9. Coach: Luis Enrique 9.

Inter will head into the Champions League final with considerable experience against Europe’s elite in recent years – however, the level of difficulty posed by the current PSG side could surpass even that of Barcelona, faced in the recent semifinal, or Manchester City, who beat them 1-0 in the 2023 final in Istanbul.

While the French giants have suffered five defeats during their European campaign this season, they have gradually evolved into a balanced yet fearsome attacking side with few apparent weaknesses to exploit.

Against Barcelona and Manchester City, Inter possessed tactical advantages that made the Nerazzurri particularly tricky to face.

For example, both opponents played with a high back-line, which allowed Inter to find space and rapidly progress through the pitch on transitions and counter-attacks. Pep Guardiola’s side also struggled against defensive low blocks, one of the reasons Erling Haaland was so well contained by Francesco Acerbi on the night.

Why PSG may be Inter’s toughest challenge yet

In contrast, PSG’s combination of qualities is likely to add a new layer of complexity to Inter’s game plan.

In Munich, defending as a low, compact block may not be enough for the Nerazzurri to limit their rivals’ offensive potential, as Luis Enrique’s side seems to have the means to unhinge their defence regardless.

The constant involvement in attacks of two of Europe’s best full-backs, Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi, means Inter’s wing-backs, Federico Dimarco and Denzel Dumfries, will be regularly tested by repeated combinations and overlaps between PSG’s wide defenders and attacking wingers Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Bradley Barcola.

• Read: Why Inter will wear their third kit in Champions League final vs. PSG

Help from the likes of Nicolò Barella and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in tracking back will be desperately needed, as a single lapse in concentration could create fatal gaps in Simone Inzaghi’s defensive wall.

Add to that Ousmane Dembélé’s mobility – something Acerbi is expected to struggle with compared to a more stationary number nine – and it’s clear why PSG’s setup looks capable of exposing Inter’s defensive vulnerabilities.

Moreover, the Ligue 1 champions’ ability to press aggressively when out of possession, along with their full-backs’ quick recovery runs, could complicate Inter’s phases with the ball.

The Nerazzurri will likely be forced to withstand suffocating pressure at several points during the game, often lacking the time or space to properly build their attacks. This could allow Luis Enrique’s team to regroup and defend compactly, something they have already proven capable of.

A top-level display from Inter’s midfielders will be absolutely crucial, especially in combination with the forwards, if they want to create quality chances. Equally important will be their clinical edge in front of goal, as scoring first could be the only way to force PSG to alter their approach, potentially leading them to take more risks and leave spaces open.

The imminent return of Max Allegri to Milan says a great deal about the club’s problems, but it is not looking to the past, argues Susy Campanale, rather recognising its current weakness.

It has been known for months that the Rossoneri needed a new director of sport and coach, yet the time dragged on with barely any progress, continuing to limply request people who had evidently better offers with a lot more security. Igli Tare was third or fourth on their wish list of directors, while Allegri was most certainly not at the top of their candidates for coach. In fairness, neither was Milan Allegri’s ideal, as he had been lined up for Napoli in case Antonio Conte walked away.

As the managerial merry-go-round was in full swing, Milan stood there watching, with an ice cream melting in their clammy hands. Vincenzo Italiano preferred to stay at Bologna, Maurizio Sarri was ruled out by his problems with Tare at Lazio, Gian Piero Gasperini is heading to Roma. Ultimately, Allegri fits the bill at San Siro, but not because of what he represented over a decade ago.

Allegri has very different ideas to Italiano

Italian football has now split rather significantly between ‘risultatisti and giochisti’ – those who say the result is everything and others who believe good football is the way to reach success. Allegri is very much the former, someone who in his last few months at Juventus broke into an anxious sweat if his players dared to pass the ball into the final third.

He coined the phrase ‘corto muso’ – by a nose – using his love of horse racing to reflect the philosophy that winning 1-0 is the ideal. You can see why Napoli wanted him to be the heir to Conte, another coach who feels sacrifice and determination is more important than quality. The anti-Gasperini.

Allegri can revitalise Rafael Leao

Milan need Allegri right now precisely because he embodies everything the current team is not. His focus is entirely on defensive organisation, whereas his idea of attacking is to simply give it to someone creative and they’ll think of something.

That could be catnip to someone like Rafael Leao, who is allergic to being given any tactical responsibility other than ‘run in the general direction of the goal.’ Allegri can continue the long overdue experiment of a three-man defence, freeing up Theo Hernandez to be the wing-back he always aspired to, with none of that pesky responsibility to defend.

It can allow Milan to sell Tijjani Reijnders to Manchester City, because we can’t have any creativity in the midfield, that is simply unacceptable for an Allegri figure. It won’t be entertaining, but after several years of awful results, the fans won’t mind too much as long as they get back into the Champions League and potentially the Scudetto race too.

So much has changed at San Siro since the coach was last here, the Silvio Berlusconi era is a distant memory and nobody seems to be in charge. That is still evidently the case even with the arrival of Tare, who the announcement statement confirmed would be answering to Giorgio Furlani. He in turn answers to Gerry Cardinale, who gets advice from Zlatan Ibrahimovic. This is why there is no clear vision at the club, because nobody has their hand firmly on the steering wheel. Allegri doesn’t particularly need or even like strong figures behind him, so he can at least take some control and be a focal figure for the squad and fans.

Both Tare and Allegri were nowhere near the first choice for Milan, but they might just end up being what the club needs right now. That in itself reflects the club’s current status, sliding down the pecking order of Calcio.

There was a time when they were a rarity but United States players are starting to be much more common in Italy. Giancarlo Rinaldi casts an eye over how they performed for their respective clubs.

When Alexi Lalas signed for Padova more than 30 years ago, it was something of a novelty. It has taken the best part of three decades for a real American revolution to happen in Serie A. This season there have been no fewer than five United States players in Italy’s top division – and they have enjoyed very differing fortunes up and down the table. With many clubs in American ownership – and more in the pipeline – it is perhaps something we will be getting used to in the years to come.

• Read more – Brilliant Bravehearts: Rating Serie A’s Scottish Stars

Christian Pulisic (Milan) – 8/10 In a season which left Rossoneri fans venting their frustration in no uncertain fashion, the former Chelsea man was surely exempt from their wrath. A scorer in their Supercoppa triumph, he enjoyed what was arguably the best campaign of his career with more than 20 goal involvements in the league. It was all the more remarkable because other big names around him notably failed to shine. If anyone deserves to be part of the latest overhaul at the Milanese giants going forward it is surely him.

Yunus Musah (Milan) – 5.5/10 It was a troublesome second season in red and black for the young midfielder as he flitted in and out of the side with alarming inconsistency. Some of that might have been down to the club’s chopping and changing of coaches but just the same he failed to really kick on after a good first term in Italy. He provided energy and drive but overall there was the impression that neither he nor his club would be too unhappy if he moved on in the summer.

Weston McKennie (Juventus) – 7/10 Considering that he looked surplus to requirements for the Thiago Motta era, his comeback to stalwart status was pretty remarkable. His adaptability and application were admirable and, in a Bianconeri side which underwhelmed again this season, he was a decent performer. Not the most spectacular, perhaps, but he chipped in a few goals – notably in the Champions League – which showed there was maybe more to his game than many had suspected.

Timothy Weah (Juventus) – 6/10 Sometimes, versatility can be a drawback for a player in terms of consistency, and that certainly felt like the case for the son of Serie A legend George Weah. He made most of his appearances at right back but played pretty much everywhere across the front line and midfield as he plugged gaps in a Juve side which struggled for a real identity. Nobody could fault his professionalism in playing wherever he was asked but it was probably counter-productive in terms of his impact across the campaign.

• Read more – Serie A 2024-25 Winners and losers: All clubs rated

Gianluca Busio (Venezia) 6.5/10 It felt like a bit of a setback season for the bustling midfielder who has been a star on the lagoons since he moved from Sporting Kansas City in 2021. Having been at the heart of their promotion push last term, it seemed like coach Eusebio Di Francesco lost a bit of faith in him as his team fought to avoid relegation. Nonetheless, he remained a decent performer for the Arancioneroverdi and there is more than a sneaking suspicion that he could have a future in the top division – even if his team does not.

If one country can lay claim to having the most surprisingly significant impact in Italy this season it is surely Scotland. Giancarlo Rinaldi grades the famous five who flourished around the peninsula.

• Football Italia Season Review – Winners and losers: All clubs rated

Somewhere up in footballing heaven, Johnny Moscardini must surely be looking down with a smile. More than a century has passed since the Scottish-born striker plied his trade with Pisa and Lucchese, but suddenly it feels like all things Caledonian are all the rage in Italy. Long gone are the days when Denis Law found Serie A too tactically suffocating and his countrymen seem to be loving life in Naples, Turin, Bologna and beyond.

Not even the most optimistic, whisky-fuelled dream could have forecast what a year this would be for this Tartan Army. League titles, a Coppa Italia and an impressive number of goals were the order of the day as they took their surroundings by storm. With good food, fine weather and an excellent lifestyle – none of them seem likely to be suffering from homesickness any time soon. They seem to love Italy, and Italy loves them.

Scott McTominay (Napoli) – 10/10 Even his own most ardent fans would have struggled to predict the impact the former Manchester United man would have in Naples. Almost from day one he started to deliver match winning performances and goals as he thrived in the role carved out for him by Antonio Conte. Any sadness he might have felt at being shown the door at Old Trafford was surely more than made up for by celebrating a title in the Stadio Maradona. He is already a legend for the Partenopei even if he never scored another goal. He will surely find that his Italian tomatoes – which he famously professed his love for – are tasting even sweeter now.

Billy Gilmour (Napoli) – 7.5/10 It was a slow burn start for the midfield schemer, but when he was asked to step up in a more regular role, he more than delivered. Many thought he might be no more than an understudy for Stan Lobotka but he emerged as a key contributor in his own right and another vital cog in the Scudetto march. If any player looked ideally suited to the more tactical climes of Serie A it is surely him. Not the eye-grabbing performances of McTominay, perhaps, but the more astute observers understood that his contribution was a significant one too.

Lewis Ferguson (Bologna) – 7/10 Undoubtedly, the mark would be even higher if he hadn’t been so long on the sidelines with injury. Still, when he came back the former Aberdeen man was able to confirm the qualities he showed last term. Leading the Rossoblu to their first trophy in a lifetime in the Coppa Italia was the icing on the cake and secured another European campaign. His vision, organisation and drive were at the heart of his team’s efforts in the closing stages of the season and the club will hope they have him available full-time next term.

Che Adams (Torino) – 7.5/10 It was not a thrilling Torino season but the Scottish striker confounded his critics by delivering a double-figure goal haul between league and cup. There were also a few assists which was no mean feat as part of a team which only averaged just over a goal a game in Serie A this term. He might have hoped that his new employers might have finished a bit higher up the table but overall he made a pretty positive impact and will surely have sharpened his skills for when his country comes calling once more.

Liam Henderson (Empoli) – 6.5/10 Perhaps the forgotten man of the Scots in Italy but he is now a familiar face and accomplished performer. He will be frustrated that his team ultimately got relegated but few could point much blame in his direction after another solid season. A regular in the referee’s notebook, he was the kind of player nobody would relish coming up against with a determination and commitment that made him a stern opponent. It might be Serie B next term but there will be plenty of sides in the top division who would not be averse to having such a seasoned performer in their ranks.

It proved to be an epic year for Italian football with drama, controversy and excitement at every turn. Giancarlo Rinaldi gives out the grades for all 20 teams in the top division this term.

Say what you like about Serie A, it was not to be outdone for dramatic finishes this season. The Scudetto, European places and relegation matters all went down to the last day. We can sit here and argue about the overall strength of the league forever but what is not in doubt is its ability to deliver some gripping entertainment.

Where there are winners, though, there have to be losers. It is alway hard to assess how successful a team’s efforts have been – especially as it has to be seen in the context of expectation at a particular club. But what follows is an attempt to grade each outfit’s campaign while taking into consideration what they might realistically have hoped to achieve.

Napoli – 9/10 Everyone knew they underperformed last season, but few expected them to bounce back in such style. The Antonio Conte effect and inspired performances from Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku meant they emerged as Inter’s only credible contender in the title fight. No European football helped, but they kept up their intensity impressively nonetheless, and ultimately delivered a fourth league crown which was celebrated in style and thoroughly deserved.

Inter – 7.5/10 The vote could go higher if they manage to clinch the Champions League but overall, it was still a good campaign from the strongest squad in Italy. There were a few slip-ups – notably in the Coppa Italia – but they maintained a high level of performance which surely earns Simone Inzaghi a right to be mentioned in European coaching’s elite. They will be annoyed to have missed out on another title but their continental exploits have provided plenty of compensation.

Atalanta – 8/10 If it is the end of the road for Gian Piero Gasperini, what a way to sign off. Another Champions League qualification comfortably achieved and outstanding campaigns from Mateo Retegui and Ademola Lookman among others. Yes, there were a few stumbles and grumbles along the way but, for a team which once hovered between Serie A and Serie B this is a golden age.

Juventus – 6/10 It was meant to be the start of a new era under Thiago Motta with both entertaining and winning football but he struggled to deliver either. In the end, he was shown the door and the rebuilding project started once again. Whoever gets the job needs to be given long-term security to start putting La Vecchia Signora back where she belongs. Their transfer strategy of regularly selling off quality young players needs some serious re-examination.

Roma – 7/10 If it was on the second half of the season alone then the mark would be just about a perfect 10. However, the period before Claudio Ranieri’s arrival was abysmal for a side with the quality of players the Giallorossi possessed. He steadied the ship and then set them flying high on a truly outstanding run of results. Whoever comes in will have a hard act to follow and there was not a dry eye in the house as he said goodbye to the Olimpico crowd.

Fiorentina – 6.5/10 It was another year of what might have been for the Viola as they strung together a great winning run and then a very drab streak of results. They missed out on a third Conference League final but somehow or another managed to seal a return to that competition on the final day. Moise Kean and David de Gea were highlights of an often frustrating side which may well be dismantled again in the summer.

Lazio – 6/10 A bit of mixed bag with some great results but there will be regrets that such promise failed to deliver Europe of any flavour. Marco Baroni looked happy at the helm of a bigger side for the first time but it remains to be seen how happy they are with him. If nothing else, they played a part in deciding where the title ended up with their draw with Inter late in the season.

Milan – 5/10 Yes, there was the Supercoppa but this was not a season at the levels the Rossoneri are used to competing at. There was the odd sign of life but overall it never hit the heights that the club would have hoped either under the puzzling Paulo Fonseca or his countryman Sergio Conceicao. Their big players did not deliver consistently either and the fans were understandably disgruntled at the overall outcome of this campaign.

Bologna – 8/10 They might have been bumped out of the Champions League and fallen down the league table but a Coppa Italia win showed that Vincenzo Italiano was on the right track. Despite losing their coach and players like Joshua Zirkzee and Riccardo Calafiori they still fought at the top end of the table and delivered a trophy after a lengthy drought. The trick will be to build on that success.

Como – 7/10 Another team like Roma who would be even higher if judged on the second half of the season alone. A spending splurge in January delivered an impressive upturn in form that saw them soar up the table. Cesc Fabregas has a lot of suitors and it is hardly surprising considering what he has delivered here. The club looks like it could become a Serie A reality for some time to come.

Torino – 6/10 A very vanilla season that fans of the Granata will have got used to by now. Paolo Vanoli showed signs of getting his team to produce a little more entertaining football but they never really kicked on. Che Adams proved a surprising source of goals, though, as the Scotsmen in Serie A continued to thrive. Still, a great club struggling for a real identity and the ability to trouble the top half of the table.

Udinese – 6.5/10 Another year of comfortable survival with some good performances along the way. Kosta Runjaic proved a pretty capable performer and his team did a decent job without ever truly setting the heather alight. Maybe rumours of new American owners can help them to take another step forward and try to challenge for Europe once again.

Genoa – 6/10 It wasn’t spectacular but they secured their continued presence in Serie A with some comfort which did not look a certainty early on. A switch from Alberto Gilardino to Patrick Vieira at the helm was enough to ensure survival although a gamble on Mario Balotelli certainly proved to be pretty ineffective.

Verona – 6.5/10 In the 40th anniversary of their famous Scudetto win, it was enough just to keep their heads above water. They were never in serious danger of going down and that in itself is impressive. Dreams of another league title do seem an awful long way off but they did well enough after losing their influential coach Baroni in the summer.

Cagliari – 6.5/10 Did just enough to survive without ever really producing anything spectacular. In the end, they managed to find a way to win some key clashes but they will hope to do a little bit better in the seasons ahead. Still, Davide Nicola underlined his reputation as the man to turn to if you want to stay afloat.

Parma – 6/10 They started off decently but it proved to be a bit of a slog to avoid dropping back into Serie B. Capable of some exciting football but they were unable to produce the kind of consistency that might have seen them finish a bit higher up the table. Pass marks, probably, but not much more.

Lecce 6.5/10 It looked like a forlorn task at times but a heroic performance on the final day saw them home. To grab a win in Rome over Lazio in order to survive was something very much out of the ordinary and no more than some of the most passionate fans in the top division deserved.

Empoli 5.5/10 There was a time when they looked like they could really be a surprise package but their slump was pretty brutal and their descent was rapid. Their efforts to give young Italian talents were to be admired but it was not enough to keep them above water. Still, they found some more interesting prospects for us all to admire.

Venezia 6/10 It was a bit of a miracle that they actually managed to get to the final day of the season with a shot at staying up. Selling off your star striker and talisman in January was a curious way to do business but it almost worked and Eusebio Di Francesco deserves some credit for giving most of their opponents a pretty tough test.

Monza – 3/10 Having been a bit of a revelation in the past two years, reality bit after losing some key players and their manager in the summer. Nothing seemed to spark a revival and a miserable season ended in relegation with a few rounds of the season left to play. It will be a slog to bounce back after one of the most miserable Serie A campaigns on record.