2011-12 Serie A: Previewing Every Team

With the English Premier League already well and underway, we have already seen just a taste of what we can expect from other leagues around the world. It is not long now until the 2011/2012 installment of the Italian Serie A gets underway.

Amid a busy transfer window, teams have been busy in respective preseason training camps. AC Milan look to build on their Supercoppa Italiana win and defend their title for a second consecutive year. There is also the number of high-profile Juventus signings and apparent major losses at Inter. This season is shaping up to be one of the best in years.

Atalanta

Manager: Stefano Colantuono

Last Season: Serie B (1st)

Stadium: Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia

Stadium Capacity: 24,642

Captain: Gianpaolo Bellini

Key Players: Édgar Barreto, Ezequiel Schelotto

Transfers (in):

• Argentinean midfielder Maximiliano Moralez from Velez for a fee of €5.3 Million;
• Defender Andrea Masiello from Bari for a fee of €3 Million;
• Defender Stefano Lucchini from Sampdoria

Total Spent: €8.3 Million

Prediction: 17th in Serie A

Atalanta were originally meant to get promoted to the Serie A last season, but match fixing allegations saw them spend another season in the Serie B. The have made a few good signings who might just help them to remain in Serie A at the end of the season.

Bologna

Manager: Pierpaolo Bisoli

Last Season: Serie A (16th)

Stadium: Stadio Renato Dall'Ara

Stadium Capacity: 38,279

Captain: Marco Di Vaio

Key Players: Marco Di Vaio, Robert Acquafresca

Transfers (in):

• French midfielder Saphir Taider on a free transfer from Grenoble;
• Midfielder Alessandro Diamanti from Brescia for a fee of €1.5Million;
• Macedonian goalkeeper Dejan Stojanovic from Lustenau for a fee of €0.3Million;
• Forward Robert Acquafresca on loan from Genoa;
• Forward Daniele Vantaggiato on loan from Padova;
• Goalkeeper Federico Agliardi from Padova;
• Spanish defender Jose Angel Crespo from Padova;
• Defender Luigi Vitale on loan from Napoli;
• Defender Kadir Caidi from Cesena;
• Swedish defender Mikael Antonsson on a free transfer from Kobenhavn;
• Defender Cesare Rickler from Chievo Verona;
• Belgian goalkeeper Jean-Francois Gillet from Bari for a fee of €1.4Million;
• Midfielder Nico Pulzetti from Livorno for a fee of €1.3Million;
• Uruguayan forward Federico Rodriguez from Genoa;
• Forward Massimo Coda from Cremonese for a fee of €0.3Million;
• Midfielder Riccardo Pasi from Parma.

Total Spent: €4.8 Million

Prediction: 14th in Serie A

A number of new signings at the club will see them surely improve on last year where they finished 16th. If Marco Di Vaio fires, expect them to finish closer to 10th.

Cagliari

Manager: Massimo Ficcadenti

Last Season: Serie A (14th)

Stadium: Stadio Sant'Elia

Stadium Capacity: 23,486

Captain: Daniele Conti

Key Players: Nenê, Andrea Cossu

Transfers (in):

• Senegalese forward Oumar Diop from Sambonifaces;
• Defender Simone Gozzi from Modena;
• Serbian goalkeeper Vlada Avramov on a free transfer from Fiorentina;
• Colombian midfielder Victor Ibarbo from Nacional for a fee of €2Million;
• Forward Andrea Cocco from Albinoleffe;
• Midfielder Marco Mancosu from Siracusa;
• Midfielder Enrico Verachi from San Marino;
• Dutch forward Moestafa El Kabir from Mjallby for a fee of €2Million.

Total Spent: €4 Million

Prediction: 13th in Serie A

You never know what to expect from Cagliari, they are a squad with no outstanding players, but collectively the team will go close to any if they are at their best. With the signings of a few youngsters and a bit of added flair, Stadio Sant'Elia will see them improve on last year's 13th-place finish.

Catania

Manager: Vincenzo Montella

Last Season: Serie A (13th)

Stadium: Stadio Angelo Massimino

Stadium Capacity: 23,420

Captain: Marco Biagianti

Key Players: Maxi López, David Suazo

Transfers (in):

• Honduran forward David Suazo on a free transfer from Inter Milan;
• Argentinean defender Mario Paglialunga from Rosario for a fee of €0.9Million;
• Forward Davide Lanzafame from Palermo;
• Argentinean midfielder Mario Angel Paglialunga from Rosario;
• Portuguese midfielder Paulo Regula on a free transfer from Setubal;
• Spanish midfielder Keko from Atletico Madrid;
• Goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano from Nocerina;
• Midfielder Federico Moretti from Ascoli.

Total Spent: €900,000

Prediction: 11th in Serie A

Catania haven't appeared to have done much in the transfer window. However, the signings they have made have been quality. Suazo and Lanzafame are just two new faces who will grace the Angelo Massimino in 2011/2012. Combined with the squad they had last season, this season could prove to be their best in recent memory.

Cesena

Manager: Marco Giampaolo

Last Season: Serie A (15th)

Stadium: Stadio Dino Manuzzi

Stadium Capacity: 23,900

Captain: Giuseppe Colucci

Key Players: Antonio Candreva, Adrian Mutu

Transfers (in):

• Brazilian midfielder Raphael Martinho on loan from Catania Calcio;
• Midfielder Roberto Guana from Palermo;
• Midfielder Antonio Candreva on loan from Udinese;
• Brazilian forward Eder from Brescia for a fee of €5Million;
• Defender Gianluca Comotto on a free transfer from Fiorentina;
• Midfielder Alessio Briglia from Bellaria Igea Marina;
• Defender Giacomo Bassoli from Bologna;
• Defender Luigi Palumbo from Parma;
• Midfielder Alessio Ambrogetti from Como;
• Midfielder Alessio Petti from Bellaria Igea Marina;
• Defender Luca Caldirola from Inter Milan;
• Forward Luca Garritano from Inter Milan;
• Goalkeeper Andrea Rossini from Foligno;
• Defender Marco Rossi from Parma;
• Romanian forward Adrian Mutu from Fiorentina;
• French forward Vincenzo Rennella on loan from Genoa.

Total Spent: €5 Million

Prediction: 16th in Serie A

Cesena produced some exciting football last season, matching it with the top of Serie A at times. Building on that attacking mentality the side will look to cement their position in Serie A with the signings of Candreva and Mutu. They should just hold on in Italy's top flight.

Chievo

Manager: Domenico Di Carlo

Last Season: Serie A (11th)

Stadium: Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi

Stadium Capacity: 38,402

Captain: Sergio Pellissier

Key Players: Alberto Paloschi, Davide Moscardelli

Transfers (in):

• Forward Alberto Paloschi on loan from Milan
• Peruvian midfielder Rinaldo Cruzado from Juan Aurich;
• Midfielder Domenico Zampaglione from Valle Grecanica;
• Defender Alessandro Longhi from Triestina;
• Midfielder Mirko Carretta from Andria;
• Defender Francesco Acerbi from Genoa for a fee of €2 Million;
• Defender Alessandro Bassoli from Bologna;
• Finnish midfielder Perparim Hetemaj from Brescia for a fee of €1.2 Million;
• Forward Antimo Iunco from Torino;
• Midfielder Filippo Tanaglia from Giacomense;
• Midfielder Filippo Fondi from Foligno;
• Defender Francesco Checcucci from Lumezzane;
• Midfielder Giovanni Madiotto from Bassano;
• Goalkeeper Marco Silvestri from Modena for a fee of €0.3 Million.

Total Spent: €3.5 Million

Prediction: 18th in Serie A

Chievo seemingly out of no where produced an 11th place finish in Serie A last season. Through sheer determination they clawed back every deficit, ensuring that every team would have to be on their guard. They had built a brilliant springboard to move forward on. However, a lack of quality signings in the transfer window could just see them bid farewell to Serie A for a season.

Fiorentina

Manager: Siniša Mihajlović

Last Season: Serie A (9h)

Stadium: Stadio Artemio Franchi

Stadium Capacity: 47,290

Captain: Alessandro Gamberini

Key Players: Alberto Gilardino, Riccardo Montolivo

Transfers (in):

• Midfielder Andrea Lazzari from Cagliari for a fee of €3 Million;
• Midfielder Gianni Munari from Palermo for a fee of €1.2 Million;
• Forward Samuel Di Carmine from Cittadella;
• Brazilian defender Romulo from Cruzeiro for a fee of €2.5 Million;
• Goalkeeper Edoardo Pazzagli from Prato;
• Midfielder Lorenzo Tafi from Prato;
• Serbian defender Matija Nastasic from Partizan for a fee of €2.5 Million;
• Goalkeeper Niccolo Manfredini from Reggiana for a fee of €0.2 Million;
• Defender Paolo Rozzio from Canavese;
• Defender Samuele Bettoni from Reggiana for a fee of €0.2 Million.

Total Spent: €9.6 Million

Prediction: 9th in Serie A

By Fiorentina's standards last season was very disappointing. Understandably, the absence of Stefan Jovetic was a blow for la viola but a string of poor performances really cost them in the long run. With the return of Jovetic expect them to match their position from last season, but only just.

Genoa

Manager: Alberto Malesani

Last Season: Serie A (10th)

Stadium: Stadio Luigi Ferraris

Stadium Capacity: 36,685

Captain: Marco Rossi

Key Players: Miguel Veloso, Rodrigo Palacio

Transfers (in):

• French goalkeeper Sebastien Frey from Fiorentina;
• Defender Nicola Pasini from Milan;
• Goalkeeper Cristiano Lupatelli on a free transfer from Bologna;
• Swiss midfielder Mattia Bottani from Lugano;
• Defender Francesco Bega from Brescia;
• Guinean midfielder Kevin Constant from Chievo Verona for a fee of €7 Million;
• Forward Mattia Destro (permanent signing) from Inter Milan for a fee of €6.5 Million;
• Goalkeeper Danilo Russo from Vicenza;
• Argentinean forward Fernando Forestieri from Udinese for a fee of €0.2 Million;
• Forward Riccardo Meggiorini from Bologna;
• German midfielder Alexander Merkel from Milan for a fee of €4 Million;
• Chilean midfielder Cristobal Jorquera from Colo Colo for a fee of €1.8 Million;
• French defender Kevin Vinetot from Crotone for a fee of €1 Million;
• Argentinean forward Lucas Pratto from Boca Juniors for a fee of €2.8 Million;
• Swedish defender Andreas Granqvist from Groningen for a fee of €4.5 Million;
• Forward Giacomo Beretta from Milan for a fee of €4 Million;
• Uruguayan midfielder Sebastian Ribas on a free transfer from Dijon;
• Chilean midfielder Felipe Seymour from Universidad Chile for a fee of €1.8 Million;
• Slovenian midfielder Valter Birsa on a free transfer from Auxerre;
• Brazilian forward Ze Eduardo from Santos for a fee of €4.5 Million.

Total Spent: €38.1 Million

Prediction: 5th in Serie A

Genoa came out and spent an absolute fortune in the transfer window. They have most certainly bolstered their squad. A tenth postition last year will easily turn into a place in Europe if their signings fire. Expect them to give all the "big guns" a run for their money.

Inter

Manager: Gian Piero Gasperini

Last Season: Serie A (2nd)

Stadium: San Siro

Stadium Capacity: 80,074

Captain: Javier Zanetti

Key Players: Wesley Sneijder, Giampaolo Pazzini

Transfers (in):

• Brazilian defender Jonathan from Santos for a fee of €5 Million;
• Argentinean midfielder Ricardo Alvarez from Velez Sarsfield for a fee of €11.9 Million;
• Paraguayan midfielder Rodrigo Alborno from Libertad;
• Goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano from Bologna for a fee of €4.1Million;
• Midfielder Luca Tremolada from Piacenza;
• Defender Dennis Esposito from Monza;
• Japanese defender Yuto Nagatomo (permanent signing) from Cesena for a fee of €4.5 Million;
• Dutch forward Luc Castaignos from Feyenoord for a fee of €3 Million

Total Spent: €28.5 Million

Prediction: 3rd in Serie A

Many people have seemingly written Inter off this season. But the truth is they still have Sneijder and still have Eto'o. In fact, most of the team that won that historic Champions League in 2010 is still present at the club. The addition of Jonathan and Alvarez will add some pace going forward. Signs from the Coppa Italiana would suggest that Inter sill have the quality to challenge for the Serie A crown.

Juventus

Manager: Antonio Conte

Last Season: Serie A (7th)

Stadium: Juventus Arena

Stadium Capacity: 41000

Captain: Alessandro Del Piero

Key Players: Arturo Vidal, Mirko Vucinic

Transfers (in):

• Montenegrin forward Mirko Vucinic from Roma for a fee of €15 Million;
• Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee of €10.5 Million;
• Swiss defender Stephan Lichtsteiner from Lazio for a fee of €10 Million;
• Swedish midfielder Albin Ekdal from Bologna for a fee of €1.3 Million;
• Argentinean midfielder Sergio Almiron from Bari;
• Goalkeeper Matteo Trini from Lumezzane;
• Forward Alessandro Matri (permanent signing) from Cagliari for a fee of €15.5 Million;
• Forward Fabio Quagliarella (permanent signing) from Napoli for a fee of €10.5 Million;
• Defender Marco Motta (permanent signing) from Udinese for a fee of €3.8 Million;
• Midfielder Simone Pepe (permanent signing) from Udinese for a fee of €7.5 Million;
• Midfielder Andrea Pirlo on a free transfer from Milan;
• Danish defender Frederik Sorensen from Lyngby U19 for a fee of €0.5 Million;
• Midfielder Michele Pazienza on a free transfer from Napoli;
• Swiss defender Reto Ziegler on a free transfer from Sampdoria.

Total Spent: €74.6 Million

Prediction: 1st in Serie A

Call me biased if you like, but I think that this season will be Juventus' year in Serie A. They have once again splashed out a lot of money, but this time have spread out this amount amongst a number of players. The directors have finally fixed the fullback issues at Juve by securing the services of Ziegler and Lichtsteiner, whilst Vidal and Vucinic will add a new dimension to the squad. Juventus also have the advantage of not playing in Europe: Therefore, in the long run they should be in a better physical condition than their rivals. They are a force to be reckoned with.

Lazio

Manager: Edoardo Reja

Last Season: Serie A (5th)

Stadium: Stadio Olimpico

Stadium Capacity: 72,698

Captain: Tommaso Rocchi

Key Players: Mauro Zárate, Djibril Cissé

Transfers (in):

• French forward Djibril Cisse from Panathinaikos for a fee of €5.8 Million;
• Lithuanian defender Marius Stankevicius from Sampdoria for a fee of €1 Million;
• Goalkeeper Federico Marchetti from Cagliari for a fee of €5.6 Million;
• Albanian midfielder Lorik Cana from Galatasaray for a fee of €5 Million;
• French defender Abdoulay Konko from Genoa for a fee of €5 Million;
• Goalkeeper Antony Iannarilli from Isola Liri;
• Bosnia-Herzegovinian defender Senad Lulic from Young Boys Bern for a fee of €3 Million;
• German forward Miroslav Klose on a free transfer from Bayern Munich.

Total Spent: €25.4 Million

Prediction: 7th in Serie A

Lazio finished strongly last season, but this year they will most likely be out done by the bigger budgets of the teams around them. Expect them to still be a dangerous team with the signing of Cisse. However, when it comes to the crunch moment they may not always pack the heavier punch. Zarate as always will be dangerous going forward.

Lecce

Manager: Eusebio Di Francesco

Last Season: Serie A (17th)

Stadium: Stadio Via del Mare

Stadium Capacity: 33,876

Captain: Guillermo Giacomazzi

Key Players: Rubén Olivera, Jeda

Transfers (in):

• Nigerian midfielder Christian Obodo on loan from Udinese;
• Colombian defender Juan Cuadrado on loan from Udinese;
• Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Sergio on loan from Roma;
• Defender Matteo Legittimo from Salernitana;
• Sierra Leonean midfielder Rodney Strasser on loan from Milan;
• Defender Moris Carrozzieri on a free transfer from Palermo;
• Serbian defender Nenad Tomovic on loan from Genoa;
• Forward Daniele Cacia from Piacenza for a fee of €1.1 Million;
• Midfielder Andrea Bertolacci (permanent signing) from Roma for a fee of €0.5 Million.

Total Spent: €1.6 Million

Prediction: 19th in Serie A

The reality is that on paper, Lecce look to be one of the weakest squads in Serie A. Although paper has never won a football match, you would have to think that the lack of quality signings this year would see Lecce fall out of Italy's top flight by the end of the season.

Milan

Manager: Massimiliano Allegri

Last Season: Serie A (1st)

Stadium: San Siro

Stadium Capacity: 80,074

Captain: Massimo Ambrosini

Key Players: Zlatan Ibrahimović, Thiago Silva

Transfers (in):

• Midfielder Stephan El Shaarawy from Genoa for a fee of €10 Million;
• Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (permanent signing) from Barcelona for a fee of €24 Million;
• Forward Gianmarco Zigoni from Genoa;
• Goalkeeper Marco Amelia from Genoa for a fee of €3.5 Million;
• Ghanaian midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng from Genoa for a fee of €7 Million;
• French defender Philippe Mexes on a free transfer from Roma;
• Nigerian defender Taye Taiwo on a free transfer from Marseille.

Total Spent: €44.5 Million

Prediction: 2nd in Serie A

They were impressive in the second half of the Supercoppa Italiana. However, if they play anything like they did in the first half, expect them to have a difficult season. They have spent a lot of money in the window, but mostly on securing loan deals. Although the biggest of the new signings would have to be El Shaarawy, who looks to fit perfectly in with the style of attacking football Milan play. Their commitment to the Champions League may just prove to be their downfall physically in the long run of the season.

Napoli

Manager: Walter Mazzarri

Last Season: Serie A (3rd)

Stadium: Stadio San Paolo

Stadium Capacity: 60,240

Captain: Paolo Cannavaro

Key Players: Marek Hamsik, Edinson Cavani

Transfers (in):

• Forward Umberto Varriale on loan from Aversa;
• Swiss midfielder Gokhan Inler from Udinese for a fee of €15 Million;
• Argentinean midfielder Mario Santana on a free transfer from Fiorentina;
• Uruguayan defender Miguel Angel Britos from Bologna for a fee of €9 Million;
• Goalkeeper Roberto Colombo on a free transfer from Triestinaina;
• Goalkeeper Antonio Rosati from Lecce for a fee of €2.9 Million;
• Swiss midfielder Blerim Dzemaili from Parma for a fee of €9 Million;
• Midfielder Lorenzo Insigne from Foggia;
• Midfielder Marco Donadel on a free transfer from Fiorentina;
• Forward Nicolao Dumitru from Empoli for a fee of €1.5 Million;
• Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani from Palermo for a fee of €16 Million;
• Argentinean defender Federico Fernandez from Estudiantes for a fee of €3.3 Million.

Total Spent: €56.7 Million

Prediction: 4th in Serie A

Napoli were certainly the surprise packet of last season. This transfer window they have looked to have built on their already impressive squad. The additions of Inler and Britos should add some extra strength to the squad. Napoli cleverly secured the services of Cavani, who will once again prove to be crucial upfront for Napoli. Expect them to qualify for Europe yet again.

Novara

Manager: Gian Piero Gasperini

Last Season: Serie B (3rd)

Stadium: Stadio Silvio Piola

Stadium Capacity: 17,000

Captain: Marco Rigoni

Key Players: Takayuki Morimoto, Pablo Granoche

Transfers (in):

• Defender Paolo Hernan Dellafiore from Parma;
• Serbian midfielder Ivan Radovanovic on loan from Atalanta;
• Midfielder Lorenzo Galassi from Parma;
• Midfielder Luigi Giorgi from Ascoli;
• Argentinean defender Santiago Garcia on loan from Palermo;
• Goalkeeper Achille Coser from Ascoli;
• Forward Mattia Marchi from South Tyrol;
• Uruguayan forward Pablo Granoche on loan from Chievo Verona;
• Midfielder Simone Pesce from Ascoli;
• Japanese forward Takayuki Morimoto from Catania Calcio;
• Midfielder Andrea Mazzarani on loan from Udinese;
• Forward Riccardo Meggiorini on loan from Genoa;
• Defender Massimo Paci from Parma.

Total Spent: Not made public

Prediction: 20th in Serie A

I'm one for supporting the underdog. However, looking on the performance of Novara last season, I have to say they were lucky to make the Serie A. Now, luck does play a part in every team. However, if you aren't able to build on that luck, don't expect to succeed. Novara had an opportunity to sign a number of quality players this transfer window. They have managed to bring in a few seasoned Serie A professionals, but whether they will come together to deliver a Serie A rebirth is another question. Hopefully they can prove me wrong.

Palermo

Manager: Stefano Pioli

Last Season: Serie A (8th)

Stadium: Stadio Renzo Barbera

Stadium Capacity: 37,242

Captain: Fabrizio Miccoli

Key Players: Abel Hernández, Cesare Bovo

Transfers (in):

• Argentinean defender Matias Silvestre from Catania Calcio for a fee of €7.3 Million;
• Uruguayan midfielder Ignacio Lores from Defensor for a fee of €2.8 Million;
• Defender Andrea Mantovani from Chievo Verona for a fee of €3.5 Million;
• Argentinean defender Mauro Cetto from Toulouse for a fee of €0.5 Million;
• Midfielder Luca Di Matteo from Vicenza;
• Defender Eros Pisano from Varese for a fee of €1.9 Million;
• Hungarian midfielder Adam Simon from Szombathely for a fee of €1 Million;
• Chilean defender Carlos Labrin from Huachipato for a fee of €1.3 Million;
• Israeli midfielder Eran Zahavi from Hapoel Tel Aviv for a fee of €1.7 Million;
• Serbian defender Milan Milanovic on a free transfer.

Total Spent: €20 Million

Prediction: 9th in Serie A

Palermo will be remembered in the minds of many for relinquishing the services of Javier Pastore to PSG. This move may just prove costly for Palermo as they continue to go without a replacement for Pastore. Expect Abel Hernendez to make it onto the big stage regularly. However, without that creative link in midfield Palermo could start to slip down the Serie A table.

Parma

Manager: Franco Colomba

Last Season: Serie A (12th)

Stadium: Stadio Ennio Tardini

Stadium Capacity: 27,906

Captain: Stefano Morrone

Key Players: Sebastian Giovinco, Jonathan Biabiany

Transfers (in):

• Defender Angelo Bencivenga from Lumezzane;
• Defender Matteo Rubin on loan from Torino;
• Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fonseca from Sporting;
• Defender Raffaele Schiavi from Vicenza;
• Defender Alberto Galuppo from Cesena;
• Chilean midfielder Jaime Valdes on loan from Sporting;
• Defender Thomas Fabbri from Cesena;
• Portuguese defender Mario Rui on a free transfer from Benfica;
• Forward Nicola Sansone on a free transfer from Bayern Munich II;
• Brazilian defender Fabiano Santacroce on loan from Napoli;
• Midfielder Manuele Blasi from Napoli for a fee of €1.5 Million;
• Nigerian midfielder Nwankwo Obiora (permanent signing) from Inter Milan;
• Forward Alessandro Elia from Bologna;
• Forward Daniel Ciofani from Atletico Roma;
• Defender Francesco Pambianchi from Pergocrema;
• Portuguese defender Marinho on a free transfer from Benfica;
• Midfielder Niccolo Galli from Pergocrema;
• Portuguese defender Goncalo Brandao on loan from Siena;
• French forward Jonathan Biabiany on loan from Sampdoria;
• Midfielder Sebastian Giovinco on loan from Juventus;
• Forward Fabio Borini on a free transfer from Chelsea;
• Forward Graziano Pelle from AZ Alkmaar for a fee of €1 Million;
• Uruguayan midfielder Mauricio Pereyra from Nacional.

Total Spent: €2.5 Million

Prediction: 12th in Serie A

You never know what to expect from Parma. On many occasions last year they shocked even the biggest teams in Italy, and then went on to lose to seemingly easy opponents. With Giovinco serving as the creative spark in the squad, Parma expect to go on to better things this season. The issue with Parma is consistency: If they can overcome that issue, who knows where they will end up.

Roma

Manager: Luis Enrique

Last Season: Serie A (6th)

Stadium: Stadio Olimpico

Stadium Capacity: 72,698

Captain: Francesco Totti

Key Players: Daniele De Rossi, Marco Borriello

Transfers (in):

• Defender Alessandro Malomo from Prato;
• Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg from Ajax for a fee of €6.4 Million;
• Spanish forward Bojan Krkic from Barcelona for a fee of €12 Million;
• Argentinean defender Gabriel Heinze on a free transfer from Marseille;
• Spanish defender Jose Angel from Gijon for a fee of €4.5 Million;
• French defender Loic Nego on a free transfer from Nantes;
• Argentinean midfielder Erik Lamela from River Plate for a fee of €15.1 Million;
• Midfielder Emiliano Massimo from Aversa;
• Midfielder Enrico Citro from Cavese;
• Goalkeeper Gianluca Curci from Sampdoria;
• Midfielder Stefano Guberti from Sampdoria.

Total Spent: €38 Million

Prediction: 8th in Serie A

Roma lost the services of Vucinic to Juventus this transfer window. Without an adequate replacement for the Montenegrin, Roma may not prove to be as competitive this season. They will do well with the acquisitions of Bojan and Lamela, but I doubt they will be as successful as the Roma of old.

Siena

Manager: Giuseppe Sannino

Last Season: Serie B (2nd)

Stadium: Stadio Artemio Franchi

Stadium Capacity: 15,373

Captain: Simone Vergassola

Key Players: Gaetano D'Agostino, Ângelo

Transfers (in):

• Midfielder Alessandro Gazzi from Bari for a fee of €2 Million;
• Defender Matteo Contini on loan from Real Zaragoza;
• Midfielder Daniele Mannini from Napoli for a fee of €0.4 Million;
• Defender Emanuele Pesoli from Varese;
• Romanian defender Sorin Radoi from Vaslui;
• Serbian goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic on loan from Udinese;
• Defender Gabriele Angella on loan from Udinese;
• Midfielder Gaetano D'Agostino from Udinese for a fee of €2.5 Million;
• Midfielder Paolo Grossi from Varese;
• Forward Mattia Destro on loan from Genoa;
• Brazilian defender Angelo from Parma;
• Defender Fabio Lucioni from Barletta;
• Midfielder Francesco Bolzoni (permanent signing) from Genoa;
• Midfielder Gianluca Sansone from Frosinone;
• Defender Nicola Belmonte from Bari.

Total Spent: €4.9 Million

Prediction: 15th in Serie A

Looking at the Siena squad, it could really prove to be a darkhorse of the Serie A. Although they will not challenge for the title as such, Gaetano D'Agostino and Vergassola will surely lead Siena well as they try to remain in Italy's top flight. They should continue to play in Serie A next season, that is, if their maquee signings fire.

Udinese

Manager: Francesco Guidolin

Last Season: Serie A (4th)

Stadium: Stadio Friuli

Stadium Capacity: 30,667

Captain: Antonio Di Natale

Key Players: Antonio Di Natale, Paulo Vitor Barreto

Transfers (in):

• Brazilian defender Neuton from Gremio for a fee of €3 Million;
• Serbian goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic from Vojvodina for a fee of €1.5 Million;
• French midfielder Abdoul Sissoko from Troyes for a fee of €1.5 Million;
• Ivory Coast midfielder Thierry Doubai from Young Boys Bern for a fee of €2.5 Million;
• Brazilian forward Barreto from Bari for a fee of €3.5 Million;
• Midfielder Diego Fabbrini from Empoli;
• Brazilian defender Danilo from Palmeiras for a fee of €2 Million.

Total Spent: €14 Million

Prediction: 6th in Serie A

I had to go back and re-write part of this article after watching Udinese against Arsenal in the Champions League qualifier. They were simply awesome. With the losses of Sanchez and Inler, I honestly expected the club to sink down to the middle of the Serie A. Yet, the brand of football they played against the English side was extremely impressive. They will qualify for Europe, but maybe not the Champions League.