The teams set to fight it out in Serie A
The Serie A season kicks off this weekend, with Juventus the favourite to take out its seventh-straight league title, but the Old Lady will have plenty of competition this time around.
Juventus
While all the attention has been on AC Milan and it's $A300 million squad overhaul, the Old Lady has been quietly, efficiently strengthening its squad for a tilt at an incredible seventh-straight title. Juve may have lost Leonardo Bonucci to the Rossoneri, but it gained a handy defender back the other way in Mateo de Sciglio.
Medhi Benatia has made his loan stint from Bayern Munich permanent and will look to fill the cavity left by Bonucci in the heart of the defence.
Further up field, Douglas Costa (Bayern Munich), Federico Bernadeschi (Fiorentina) and soon, Blaise Matuidi (PSG) give Juve enviable depth in midfield. Managing to keep Paolo Dybaka
AC Milan
AC Milan's new Chinese owners showed their intent to bring the club back to the top of Italian football, with ten new signings in the off-season.
The Rossoneri has strengthened across the park, with the likes of Andre Silva, Leonardo Bonucci and Hakan Calhanoglu, while warding off Real Madrid to keep prodigious goalkeeper and future captain Gianluigi Donnarumma.
AC Milan's new signings appear to be hitting their stride at the right time, the club recorded its biggest win in Europe since 1993 after thumping Shkendija in their UEFA Europa League play-off on Friday (AEST).
If pre-season form is any indication, this could be the year for AC Mian.
Inter Milan
It hasn't bolstered its squad quite like cross town rival AC Milan, but Luciano Spalletti's appointment at Inter Milan could prove to be one of the signings of the transfer window.
The two-time Serie A coach of the year brings a direct style to the Nerazzurri and its seems to be paying off, beating the likes of Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Lyon in a strong pre-season.
If Inter can hold onto Manchester United target Ivan Perisic and make a few signings of its own, the Nerazzurri could be a dark horse for the Scudetto.
AS Roma
Life without inspirational leader Francesco Totti officially begins for Roma, but there's a ready-made replacement in Danielle De Rossi ready to assume the captain's arm-band.
The Giallorossi poached Aleksandar Kolarov from Manchester City in the off season, and the defender's dangerous set-pieces and composure will be invaluable to Eusebio Di Francesco's side.
Roma boasts a well-balanced squad with Edin Dzeko leading the line, Radja Nainggolan's creative spark and metronome Daniele De Rossi in midfield, Roma will be one to watch again this season.
