Surprising all football supporters and fans who simply like to bet on the games at a live casino, after a sensational campaign by all the top teams Juventus’ 9-year stranglehold on the trophy finally came to an end. A few clubs can look back and say what if, a minuscule two points separating second place down to fifth.
Perhaps if teams had strengthened better during the previous summer, they could have grasped the opportunity of taking advantage of Juves’ slip. It’s hard to know if they will be back stronger next year or whether there’s a new game in town. For the moment, the new name on the trophy is Inter Milan, putting an end to years of pain.
Especially after coming such a close second last year, it was feared they had missed their chance. But they responded well and their team of so-called journeymen and outcasts managed to stay the course this year.
It was made even sweeter by the fact that although they were being chased by their city rivals AC Milan, they never gave up. However, their fantastic form brought unwanted attention to their stars. So, how did the transfer window go for Serie A teams over the summer? Did teams strengthen or find themselves weakened in their quest to emerge victorious in Serie A?
Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea
Unsurprisingly, his form last year put him firmly back on the radar of some top English clubs. Rumored to have been a transfer target for both Chelsea and Man City, Chelsea swooped in to make him the second most expensive transfer in Premier League history.
Funnily enough, Chelsea had Lukaku on their books a long time ago but he never really got much of a chance. Banging in goals for fun at Everton, they tried to re-sign him then but were beaten to the punch by Manchester Utd. Despite having a prolific spell at the club, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer deemed him surplus to requirements and sold him to Inter Milan.
The rest, as they say, is history, with Lukaku providing the goals that fired Inter Milan to their first Serie A title since 2010. Financial difficulties appear to have prompted the sale, with Lukaku keen to leave once Chelsea had shown their interest. Lukaku is a firm favorite to be the top scorer in England this season and if you are thinking of getting involved, be sure to check out all options available to you.
While they received a hefty transfer fee, it’s fair to say this departure has significantly weakened this Inter Milan team. The arrival of Edin Dzeko, an experienced yet aging forward did little to appease the fans, but he has started strongly. A lot will be expected of both him and Lautaro Martinez if Inter Milan are to retain their crown.
Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United
Another team that unfortunately lost a goal-scoring machine is Juventus. Reports that living football legend Cristiano Ronaldo wished to call time on his stint at Juventus proved to be true and he made the move back to Old Trafford. How on earth would Juventus cope?
The odds of them winning the title were instantly affected on online betting sites upon the news of Ronaldo’s departure. In hindsight, Manchester United may have been wiser to bypass any sentimental feelings and instead have signed someone who would have boosted their defensive strength in midfield.
While it’s hard to comprehend how difficult it is to replace a player like this, this was the task facing Juventus officials over the summer. They opted to re-sign Moise Kean on loan from Everton, the club they had originally sold him to. It hasn’t worked out as well at Everton as he had hoped, having been shipped out on loan to PSG the previous season.
The return of Max Allegri to Juventus inspired this signing as they both had a previously successful spell at the club together. Juventus are not short of attacking players with Morata, Dybala, and Chiesa all aiming to rejuvenate the forward line of Juve which looked far too reliant on and in awe of Ronaldo. After relinquishing their grip on the title, maybe a hungry youngster in search of trophies like Kean is exactly what Juve needs.
Oliver Giroud to AC Milan
While pushing on in years, Oliver Giroud has certainly not lost any of his skill over time. Performing well at Arsenal, people were surprised when he chose to move on. The fact he moved to Chelsea, their London rivals, raised a few eyebrows but while it was assumed he would be content sitting on the bench, he was always pushing to play. He has played with a variety of strikers at Chelsea but even before the arrival of Lukaku, he felt his time there was coming to an end.
A World Cup winner, he would have been a valuable asset to any club. Available on a free transfer, AC Milan took their time but eventually got their man, even though Inter was rumored to be interested also. With Zlatan Ibrahimovic on their books also, it would be an older strikeforce but the massive experience shared between these two can only lead to footballing quality. They will have plenty to teach youngsters such as Brahim Diaz and Rafael Leao and could push on from last season.
Tammy Abraham to Roma
This may have been more of a surprise, but certainly stunning as he was deemed to be quite a promising youngster at Chelsea. Not receiving enough game time, he has decided to make the move to Serie A and can certainly only boosts Roma’s chances of improving on the previous season. Still finding his feet, he has got off the goalscoring mark already and the potential is there for him to have an explosive season.
He would certainly write himself into Roma folklore if he did manage to fire them to the title but of course, another man they would have to thank is Jose Mourinho. For indeed, this is where the former Real Madrid and Chelsea manager has ended up. Could two unwanted stars of the Premier League stun Serie A this season? A solid start for him would be good for the team and possibly anyone who likes to gamble on sports.
Summary
Every summer it’s very hard to separate facts from rumors. Clubs’ media departments will be going into overdrive trying to assure the fans that the moves they make are in the best interests of the club. Some transfers clearly weaken teams whereas others may provide the inspiration for a solid campaign, hopefully ending with the title.
While Serie A is not as popular as the Premier League, its teams are still looked upon with respect. With Italy winning Euro 2020, there has been a newfound interest in Serie A and who is making an impression over there. While these transfers may not contain any Italians, they certainly shook up the football world in Serie A and fans worldwide can’t wait to see how the season pans out.
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