Giampiero Ventura... still the man in charge at Torino.As the new Serie A campaign gets underway later this month, Atalanta, Genoa, Parma, Sampdoria, Torino and Udinese are bracketed to figure in a small group of teams all aiming to float in a safe mid-table position with a late push for Europa League slots.
Torino did it last year but are they strong enough to repeat their feat in 2014/15?
The once-mighty Maroons played some of the most entertaining football in Italy last season on the way to a creditable seventh place – their highest finish since the third position of season 1991/92.
This summer, however, Torino lost the services of Ciro Immobile who signed for Borussia Dortmund.
The 22 goals Immobile scored last season helped Torino leapfrog more quoted sides as he also became the first Torino player to top the scorers’ list since Fran-cesco Graziani in 1976/77.
Alessio Cerci could be another key player leaving Torino before the end-of-month transfer deadline with Milan reportedly hunting for his signature.
However, coach Giampiero Ventura can still count on a solid base bolstered by the acquisition of a few interesting players including experienced ones like Antonio Nocerino (Milan), Christian Molinaro (Parma) and Fabio Quaglia-rella (Juventus).
They will increase Ventura’s options in all departments and serve as a source of inspiration for the younger players.
Torino started the season on a fine note after clearing the first hurdle in the Europa League.
Now, they’re only one step away from the group stage with their next opponents being RNK Split.
Parma have not been active in this transfer window mainly because club supremo Tommaso Ghirardi has decided to go
Former Italy coach Roberto Donadoni is still in charge at troubled Parma.
The 1995 UEFA Cup winners have not been particularly active in this transfer window mainly because club supremo Tommaso Ghirardi has decided to go and put the club for sale.
His decision came after UEFA’s refusal to grant Parma a licence to compete in the Europa League due to financial irregularities.
Coach Stefano Colantuono has also been retained by Atalanta.
The Bergamo outfit remained largely unchanged and look to have all cards in place to embark on a new season and fresh hopes following a disappointing 11th position at the end of the previous campaign.
Atalanta will have veteran striker Rolando Bianchi back in their fold.
Bianchi, 31, is a club youth product. He made 21 first-team appearances (without scoring) for Atalanta between 2000 and 2004.
The team’s key players next season should be Giacomo Bonaventura, Maximilliano Moralez and German Denis.
Atalanta have lost the services of defender Mario Yepes (free agent) and Luigi Giorgi (Cesena) but, in return, have signed Giuseppe Biava, Boukary Drame (both free agents), Nicolo Cherubin (Bologna), Marco D’Alessandro (Roma) and Valerio Rosetti (on loan from Juventus).
Following an opaque 2012/13 campaign with Inter, coach Andrea Stramaccioni has another chance to prove himself in the Serie A as he succeeds Francesco Guidolin on the Udinese bench.
The northeasterners are ex-pected to sign Greek international midfielder Panagiotis Kone from relegated side Bologna as they try to improve on last season’s 13th place finish.
Genoa and Sampdoria have been among the most active clubs on the transfer market as the two derby rivals are both coming from low-key campaigns.
New Sampdoria owner Massimo Ferrero has lured striker Gonzalo Bergessio to his club from Catania as the fiery Sinisa Mihajlovic remains at the helm of the 1991 Serie A champions.
After several years in hibernation and flirting with relegation, Genoa have made a number of important signings to try and lift the team’s profile for the new campaign.
Among those joining Gian Piero Gasperini’s squad this summer are Alessandro Matri (Milan), Diego Perotti (Seville), Tomas Rincon (Hamburg), Aleandro Rosi (Sassuolo), Iago Falque (Tottenham), Mauricio Pinilla (Cagliari) and Edenilson (Udinese).