INTER
Inter haven't made any significant additions to an ageing squad and look particularly thin up top following the sale of bad boy Balotelli though at least Eto'o should play in his preferred position in attack. Much will depend on Sneijder being able to reproduce last season's magic and of course the irrepressible Maicon. Brazilian midfielder Coutinho is tipped for a breakout year. There's only one way to go when you're at the top and that's down and in Benitez Inter probably have the right man for that job - how long before he starts bickering with the board and repeats the mistakes he made at Valencia and Liverpool?
Key Players : Lucio, Maicon, Sneijder
Prospects : Champions/Runners-Up
MILAN
After embarking on a bizarre transfer campaign in which the club signed half a dozen or so unknown teenagers and players on loan from Genoa not one but two high profile forwards arrived in the space of a week - serial championship winner Ibrahimovic, whose teams have finished top of their league in the last seven years, and Brazilian bad boy Robinho. The less heralded Boateng could well prove to be a genuine long-term replacement for Gattuso and Ambrosini. New coach Allegri is spoilt for choice in attack and is the first Milan coach in many a year to have genuine strength in depth. If he finds the right balance and more importantly if Nesta, the glue than can held it all together, stays relatively fit Milan can end Inter's five year reign as Italian champions.
Key Players : Nesta, Ronaldinho, Ibrahimovic
Prospects : Champions/Runners-Up
JUVENTUS
Juve should be applauded for making a concerted effort to bring in Italian players, bucking a worrying trend set by Inter and Milan. Quagliarella is a spectacular if non-prolific striker - hardly the ideal replacement for Trezeguet. The much maligned Pepe has infectious workrate. Bonucci will form the backbone of the Juventus and Italy defence for years to come alongside Chiellini. Juve's most significant signing is Krasic, the dynamic Serbian who has more than just a passing resemblance to Juve legend Nedved, he plays like him too. Del Neri, who flopped in his previous spells at big clubs (Porto & Roma) needs time and has wisely set the bar low by dismissing his teams title chances. A top four finish is a more realistic target ahead of the clubs move to their new stadium which could have major, positive long-term implications for the future of Italian football.
Key Players : Buffon, Chiellini, Krasic
Prospects : Champions League
ROMA
On the brink of bankruptcy, cash strapped Roma blew their transfer budget on the dreadful Burdisso after protracted talks with Inter who must be laughing all the way to the bank. Another equally perplexing move was the signing of Adriano, who'll spend more time in bars than on the pitch. Simplicio is a great pick-up from Palermo and Borriello, on loan from Milan, could well prove to be Roma's key player - Totti's knees won't last the season and Vucinic is a lightweight bottler. That this pitiful team, with little genuine quality. have been Inter's main challengers over the past five years is a damning indictment on the rest of the chasing pack.
Key Players : Mexes, De Rossi, Totti
Prospects : Europa Cup
NAPOLI
Cavani, a ?17 million signing from Palermo, will spearhead a three man attack alongside two other fantastically gifted youngsters - Lavezzi and Hamsik who would grace any team in the Word. Further back is Uruguayan DM Gargano, who has a great range of passing, and dynamic Italy midfielder Cristian Maggio. If the rest of Napoli's starting XI were at this quality the team would be fighting for the scudetto instead of a Champions League place. Defence is definitely the teams weak point and one area that hasn't been addressed. It could be a make or break year for Santacroce, the defender once considered the heir apparent to Nesta. He missed the whole of last season with a knee injury.
Key Players : Hamsik, Lavezzi, Cavani
Prospects : Champions League/Europa Cup
SAMPDORIA
Despite qualifying for the preliminary rounds of the Champions League Sampdoria's notoriously tight fisted president failed to give his new coach Domenico Di Carlo any significant reinforcements with the exception of highly promising goalkeeper Gianluca Curci. Pozzi has made a welcome recovery from a season ending injury though as always Samps hopes rest on the outrageously gifted Cassano and penalty box assassin Pazzini. Sampdoria don't have the strength in depth or quality in defence to mount another assault on a top four finish.
Key Players : Curci, Cassano, Pazzini
Prospects : Europa Cup
PALERMO
Having just missed out on a Champions League place coach Delio Rossi is already under pressure following an awful start to the season. Like Arsenal and Ajax, Palermo adopt a policy of developing young players and selling them on for huge profits. Two of their best, Cavani and Kjaer, left in the summer. In Abel Hernandez Palermo have a ready made replacement for Cavani but replacing Simon Kjaer, the best young defender in the World, will prove more difficult. Pastore is quickly developing into one of the best players in the World but desperately needs support from his captain - the inspirational pocket rocket Miccoli who is currently recovering from surgery.
Key Players : Nocerino, Pastore, Miccoli
Prospects : Europa Cup/Mid-Table
LAZIO
After flirting with relegation and distracted by their presidents idiotic stance against contract rebels Pandev and Ledesma, Lazio have splashed the cash in a bid to reclaim their former position alongside the Serie A elite. Much vaunted Brazilian midfielder Hernanes arrives from Sao Paulo and already looks a class act. Floccari's loan move has been made permanent and he's a physical alternative to Lazio speed merchants Rocchi and Zarate. A Europa League place isn't out of the question, even if Lazio have major shortcomings in defence.
Key Players : Ledesma, Mauri, Hernanes
Prospects : Europa Cup/Mid-Table
GENOA
Having just missed out on a Champions League place two years ago Genoa were well off the pace last season. Portuguese internationals goalkeeper Eduardo and midfielder Veloso and Brazilian wingback Rafinha are the most high profile arrivals. One area Genoa didn't really address was in attack. As a top class striker Toni is finished and at the other end of the scale teenagers Zigoni and Destro, from Milan and Inter respectively, can't be expected to lead the line. Genoa were involved in more high scoring games than any other team last season, their games producing no fewer than 118 goals. Outstanding one week and woeful the next, 'Gandalf' Gasperini needs to find some consistency if the club are to claim a European berth.
Key Players : Eduardo, Ranocchia, Palacio
Prospects : Europa Cup
FIORENTINA
Reeling from the loss of inspirational coach Cesare Prandelli - to the Italian national team and playmaker Jovetic, who suffered cruciate knee ligament damage in pre-season, this will be a painful transitional season for the Viola.
Key Players : Frey, D'Agostino, Gilardino
Prospects : Mid-Table