As the Serie A campaign prepares for kick off, we take a look at five players expected to shine in Italy this season.
Alvaro Morata, Juventus
The Spanish striker, 21, who signed from Real Madrid, cost Juve €20 million and has a buy-back option in his contract, suggesting that while Madrid struggled to find a place for him in their current star-studded XI, they do rate him. Needs to make a breakthrough at the elite level, though, and Serie A will test his true capacity.
Stephan El Shaarawy, AC Milan
He has had a testing last 18 months, with a loss of form followed by fitness problems. He was overshadowed by Mario Balotelli, now departed. Still only 21, indications from the pre-season are that the lively striker should benefit from the coaching of Pippo Inzaghi, an ex-Milan forward.
Ashley Cole, Roma
World-class talents have a tendency, in recent years, to look at leagues other than Italy. Cole has been one of England’s few world-class footballers. He looks a bit past his peak at 33, but Roma nonetheless bought an accomplished master of the modern defensive and attacking disciplines at the fullback position.
Yann Mvila, Inter Milan
A crossroads season for Mvila, 24. He joins Inter on loan from Rubin Kazan, and though Inter are not involved in the Champions League, he moves a step closer to the mainstream of club football. Mvila just served an international ban, imposed by the French Federation, but can now progress.
Giuseppe Rossi, Fiorentina
Rossi’s injury struggles have curtailed his career. Having impressively recovered from the latest, his exclusion from Italy’s World Cup squad was a surprising disappointment. Now he has the chance to lead Fiorentina’s push for a top-three finish and impress Antonio Conte, the new national-team coach.
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