Both AC Milan and Inter will begin the new season hoping to win the Scudetto and thus the right to put a second star above their crest.
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This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) takes a look at the business done by the two sides so far, starting with Stefano Pioli who ‘changed canvas and designed a new Milan’ while Simone Inzaghi ‘touched up Inter with a few brushstrokes’.
Milan have chosen to add more size and physicality to their side, a choice perhaps partly dictated by the domination in the Champions League semi-final. In midfield, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Tijjani Reijnders and Yunus Musah arrived to try and create a pressing machine.
There is no longer just the left side to rely on either as Samuel Chukwueze should be Rafael Leao’s twin on the right flank, while Noah Okafor and Christian Pulisic are versatile profiles.
Inter meanwhile have signed Davide Frattesi for the midfield having lost Marcelo Brozovic, while Lazar Samardzic should provide more creativity in the midfield trio and Juan Cuadrado could offer something different to Denzel Dumfries.
The widening of options makes Inter’s midfield the strongest in the league. The derby on 16 September will make us understand who has gained the most from the changes and how wide the gap is between the clubs.
Both clubs are in the front row of candidates for the Scudetto, with Juve and Napoli. For two years, despite injuries and legal misfortunes, the Bianconeri have had the strongest squad in the tournament, together with Inter, but they have not found a game that allows them to unleash that power onto the pitch.
This summer it seems that Allegri has come to terms with modernity (pressing, low construction), while Napoli are a mandatory candidate, even if it is difficult to stay at that level and the change of coach will require new ideas.
The Rossoneri management impressed with the speed and number of signings, but today it is impossible to predict how many will turn out to be worthy of Milan and if they will be able to compensate for what Sandro Tonali leaves behind.
What must also be determined is how much Paolo Maldini’s absence at Milanello will weigh, given his charismatic experience in supporting the team.
