The reigning champions, Inter Milan, enter the fray with a reconstructed defensive shape. Following the departures of Dumfries, Francesco Acerbi, and Stefan de Vrij, the club moved efficiently to secure Spence, Stones, Akanji, and Stankovic. Management continues to actively pursue Curtis Jones, valuing his distribution skills and positional versatility to reinforce the right flank. Despite these moving parts, their signature 3-5-2 system remains visibly intact. Inter logged a five-match unbeaten streak in pre-season friendlies, suggesting early cohesion. Their primary obstacle this season will not be tactical familiarity, but rather physical endurance as they face the heavy simultaneous demands of league, domestic cup, and European fixtures.
Across the city, AC Milan has focused intensely on integrating Portuguese forward Ramos and central defender Gila, a Real Madrid academy product whose progressive passing strictly aligns with modern tactical demands. With veteran Luka Modric expected to orchestrate the midfield and provide service to the front line, alongside ongoing talks for Belgian winger Diego Moreira, the squad possesses clear offensive potential. Yet their pre-season form paints a complicated picture. Securing only one win alongside two draws and a defeat—highlighted by a concerning 0-3 loss to Chelsea—has exposed severe defensive integration issues. Even their lone 4-2 victory demonstrated significant attacking output but conceded twice. Finalizing their defensive structure remains an immediate necessity for the technical staff.
Juventus opted out of a single astronomical signing this window, choosing instead to distribute funds across the pitch. They invested heavily, spending over €40 million to bring in Loïs Openda and Randal Kolo Muani, along with €32 million for 18-year-old Bosnian winger Kerim Alajbegovic. At the back, they added Colombian center-half Jhon Lucumí and secured goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario on loan from Tottenham. Despite these wide-ranging reinforcements, pre-season friction was evident as Juventus fell 1-2 to Inter in a friendly. A subsequent 2-0 win over a youth squad offered little real tactical insight given the disparity in quality, leaving questions about their current capacity to displace the champions.
Further south, Napoli retained Kevin De Bruyne but saw Romelu Lukaku depart. They pivoted to Rasmus Højlund and winger Alisson Santos for their attacking line, resulting in an immediate 6-2 pre-season victory. However, with De Bruyne aging and carrying a heavy creative load, securing a top-three finish remains a highly demanding task. Meanwhile, Atalanta made a shrewd structural adjustment by acquiring wide player Nicola Zalewski and transitioning him into a central midfield role. The move has proven effective in early friendlies, solidifying their status as a serious contender for a top-four position as the season kicks off.