Serie A Preview: 10 Biggest Storylines as Italian Season Kicks Off

Serie A is back and ready to deliver some fantastic football, becoming one of the most intriguing leagues in the world in recent years.

Calcio Scommesse has placed a shadow over Italian football again, but this should not discourage fans from tuning in to Serie A, as they will find one of the most competitive and unpredictable leagues around.

As with every league in Europe, there are plenty of stories and subplots that are bound to keep Calcio fans glued to their screens over the coming weeks and discuss passionately in the bars.

Here, I divulge 10 stories that you need to follow as we approach the big kickoff to Serie A this weekend.

Who Will Get the Better Deal from the Pazzini, Cassano Deal? Inter or Milan?

AC Milan and Inter are expected to complete a remarkable transfer deal, according to The Independent and various sources on the peninsula.

Giampaolo Pazzini is set to swap black and blue for black and red, while Antonio Cassano will be moving in the opposite direction.

Both clubs are somewhat restricted in their ability to improve their squads due to their financial difficulties and have now begun talks over an incredible swap deal that would benefit all involved.

Pazzini needs game time, as he finds himself behind Diego Milito in the pecking order, while Cassano is deemed disposable due to Milan possessing a multitude of similar strikers and the player's unpredictable behaviour.

I expect both to succeed with their new clubs, but who will get the better deal?

Will Massimo Carrera Be Able to Continue Conte's Good Work with Juve?

After Antonio Conte was handed a 10-month suspension for his part in the Calcio Scommesse scandal, Juventus admirably supported their manager, despite it being to the detriment of the Bianconeri, as opposed to recruiting a new, experienced manager.

Massimo Carrera has temporarily been placed in charge of the Old Lady and he has begun in sensational fashion. Having claimed the Supercoppa, triumphing 4-2 in Beijing over Napoli, Carrera guided Juve to a 3-2 victory over Milan in the Trofeo Berlusconi.

Time will tell whether the squad is strong enough to succeed despite the absence of their manager or hand Milan or others enough of an advantage to wrestle the Scudetto away from Turin.

Will Udinese Continue to Defy Logic and Succeed Despite Selling Their Stars?

Udinese continued their policy of selling their star players when the bigger clubs inquired about their availability.

The Zebrette sold Samir Handanovic to Inter and Kwadwo Asamoah and Mauricio Isla to Juventus for a combined €24.4 million, although they managed to maintain some of the rights for the players with a view to their values continuing to grow.

Udinese defied logic last season to improve from a fourth place finish the season before to claim that precious third place to qualify for the Champions League, where they will play Braga for a place in the group stages.

Francesco Guidolin is a master at operating within the means of his club and I fully expect Udinese to surprise people again by contending for the European places.

Can Inter's Argentine Duo of Milito & Palacio Deliver Champions League?

Diego Milito was prolific last season, scoring 24 goals for the Nerazzurri, while Rodrigo Palacio managed 19 at Genoa.

The Albiceleste internationals succeeded despite their teams' miserable performances and will be hoping to combine in order to deliver Champions League football again for Inter, who will play in the Europa League this season.

Palacio's lateral movement and tendency to drift wide will be a perfect match for Il Principe, whose movement should open up space for the former Boca Juniors star to exploit.

Andrea Stramaccioni will be feeling smug in the knowledge that his side possess at least 35 goals from his two strikers, which should give him a chance of appeasing Massimo Moratti's high demands, whatever they may be.

Can Milan Challenge Despite Selling Thiago Silva and Ibrahimovic?

Milan opted to sell their two best players this summer, which stunned the Rossoneri's fans into demanding refunds for their season tickets.

Milan received a combined €64 million from Paris Saint-Germain, which seems like great value, especially when you consider they have cut an astronomical amount off their wage bill.

But there are grave implications for Milan, who seem to have surrendered in their bid to challenge for a Champions League crown, the prize that this great football club covets above all after winning it seven times.

Massimo Allegri has been handed a tough task to replicate previous success and failure to do so will potentially result in his sacking.

Can Napoli Resist Selling Prized Asset Edinson Cavani?

Napoli will be squirming as we enter the final days of the transfer window.

Having failed to qualify for the Champions League, the Partenopei have left themselves vulnerable to having their top stars prized away by Europe's biggest clubs.

Ezequiel Lavezzi was sacrificed, joining Paris Saint-Germain for €26 million, in order to give Aurelio De Laurentiis more power to resist bids for other star players.

Edinson Cavani is the biggest name that could yet depart, with Chelsea registering an interest, according to The Daily Star.

Having previously valued El Matador at €100m, Napoli will find it difficult to turn down offers in the region of €30 million without Champions League football to pay their top earner.

Can Alexandre Pato Stay Fit for the Whole Season?

Alexandre Pato enters a crucial stage of his career, having only played 113 matches in five seasons, the Seleção striker must remain fit in order to give Milan an opportunity to challenge for the Scudetto.

In those 113 games Pato has scored 51 goals, an impressive strike rate, but when the Rossoneri have to cope without him for large spells of the season, it leaves the team in a precarious position due to constantly losing consistency and inevitably momentum.

Massimo Allegri will be praying that Pato can play at least 35 matches this season, which should be enough to inspire Milan to a title challenge.

Are Pescara Destined to Finish Bottom After Losing Zeman, Immobile and Insigne?

Pescara won Serie B last year and secured promotion in swashbuckling fashion under the guidance of Zdenek Zeman. The Czech manager attributes this success to a trident of attackers that took the league by storm.

Ciro Immobile was the focal point, flanked by Marco Sansovini and Lorenzo Insigne, to provide the bulk of the side's 90 goals, 27 more than any other side in the league.

However, as magnificent as the 2011/12 season was for the Delfini, this summer has been agonising after the inevitable departures of Immobile and Insigne, who returned to their parent clubs, Genoa and Napoli. Moreover, Zeman, the mastermind behind their recent success, has been lured to Roma which could prove fatal to their chances of survival.

A lot will be expected of the new prodigy Wladimir Weiss, who arrives on loan from Manchester City, but essentially this is a team, stripped of everything that made them a relevant team in Italian football, that will probably return immediately to Serie B.

Will Aquilani Finally Feel Wanted Again with Fiorentina?

Alberto Aquilani was discarded by Liverpool this summer, perhaps foolishly, given that he would seem like a nice fit for the playing style of new manager Brendan Rodgers.

Nevertheless, Aquilani finally finds himself at a club that should be able to make him feel special once more. Over the coming months he will attempt to rediscover his best form that has eluded him for so many years, since departing Roma.

Loan spells at Juventus and Milan as well as an injury-blighted season at Liverpool have stagnated his career and he will be hoping to be a pivotal figure in this new-look Viola.

The Florence club has excellently replaced Riccardo Montolivo by paying Liverpool just €2 million. The Viola have been especially busy in the transfer market by acquiring Borja Valero, David Pizzaro, Gonzalo Rodriguez, Matias Fernandez, Juan Cuadrado, Mounir El Hamdaoui, Facundo Roncaglia, Mattia Cassani and Emiliano Viviano.

Aquilani will be delighted with the prospect of being a protagonist in the renaissance of this great club and upon regaining his confidence he should be a joy to watch again.

Can Erik Lamela Enjoy a Breakout Season with Roma Under Zeman?

Erik Lamela, who joined Roma from River Plate last year for €17 million, experienced a decent, if not spectacular season with the Giallorossi.

There were moments of genius and signs that he can become one of the world's best players, but too often did the Albiceleste international let himself down with poor behaviour.

There was the fight between himself and Pablo Daniel Osvaldo before disgracefully spitting at Juventus' Stephan Lichsteiner. Zdenek Zeman will have to manage this fiery character differently to the norm in order to reap the benefits, but it will definitely be worth it.

Lamela has an opportunity to inherit the throne of Francesco Totti and this season should be the beginning of this symbolic period at the club.

Follow me on twitter @jackrathborn and @FRcalcioJack for more opinions and insight on football.