Last season, the Italian Serie A witnessed one of the most intriguing title races in recent history.

At some point in the season, three teams–Napoli, Inter Milan and Atalanta–all had genuine chances of winning the title. 

Atalanta were initially perceived as underdogs and outsiders in the title race. But after an impressive return of points in the first half of the season, fans and holders of Serie A tickets began to take the Bergamo-based club more seriously. 

However, as observed and predicted in the early stages of the season, Atalanta tired towards the end of the season, eventually finishing in third place, eight points behind the eventual winners, Napoli.

This was due to a lack of squad depth in the Atalanta team, with Gian Piero Gasperini’s former side struggling to manage the intensity of Serie A, given their participation in the Champions League. Ultimately, they paid the price for not having a big, quality squad.

Meanwhile, Inter Milan matched Napoli for most of the season, going all the way in the title race, only narrowly missing out by one point on the last day of the season. 

Inter’s ability to match Napoli was down to their squad strength. The Nerazzurri had the most robust squad among the top teams. In the summer of 2024, Inter spent around €77m on new signings. While that was nowhere near the biggest spend of the summer, it was smart spending, as Inter didn't have to spend much, considering that, unlike other clubs, they didn't sell any of their key players.

Eventual winners Napoli spent €152m on transfers that summer, but their spending was offset by a few departures, including Victor Osimhen and, eventually, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in January. So while Napoli didn't have a squad as big as Inter or even AC Milan, Conte’s side had the advantage of not participating in any European tournament throughout last season. That helped them stay ahead of the rest, even with a relatively small squad. However, Napoli and Conte recognise that they cannot rely on the same squad that won the title last season throughout this season. 

Like many of their title rivals, Gli Azzurri have already strengthened this summer ahead of the upcoming season. 

But how prepared are the Serie A champions and the other teams for the 2025/26 season?

Who has assembled the best squad in the Serie A?

In this article, we evaluate the squad strength of each of the top teams, starting with the strongest among them. 

Napoli 

Antonio Conte’s side will enter the new campaign as Serie A champions for the third time in the last four seasons, having won the Scudetto in the 2022/23 season under Luciano Spalletti. 

Napoli has made important moves in the market to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season. They have managed to keep all their key players from last season and have added the likes of Lorenzo Lucca, Sam Beukema, Noa Lang and Kevin De Bruyne to their squad. 

The Belgian midfielder, despite being in his mid-30s, remains a quality player who can improve many sides, including Napoli. Few midfielders in the Serie A can match his vision, passing range, tenacity and leadership. 

The 34-year-old brings a wealth of experience to this Napoli side, and there is no doubt that he will thrive under a coach like Conte, who has won it all. His addition to this Napoli team, along with the signing of Italian striker Lorenzo Lucca, has added more quality to an already strong squad. 

Napoli tickets are sure to be in high demand again this season, with Gli Azzurri set to be competing for more trophies than last season. 

Inter Milan 

Inter Milan is another Serie A side with a very strong squad for the upcoming season. The Nerazzurri may have changed managers this summer, continuing in a culture of constant managerial changes among Serie A teams. Still, they remain the side with arguably the most star-studded squad in the Italian top flight. 

Inter have not done much in the market, having spent just €66m in new signings. Yet, there are no major weaknesses within their squad that need a large transfer outlay or significant input. Inter Milan players remain among the best in Europe, and fans and those who purchase Inter Milan tickets expect them to fight for the title again this season.

However, it remains to be seen how they will perform under their new coach, Cristian Chivu. The fact that the Romanian has minimal experience in the top flight could potentially bother Inter fans. Another cause for concern among Inter fans might be the average age of the current Inter squad, with many of their key players now in their 30s. Still, there is no doubt that there is almost no better squad in Italy than Inter Milan’s.

Juventus 

Despite their failings last season, Juventus remain one of the top teams in Serie A in terms of squad strength. 

The Old Lady signed at least six players last summer, spending around €202m in last season’s rebuild under Thiago Motta. However, they also allowed many of their players to leave last year, meaning that their signings weren’t enough to offset some of the gaps left by their exits.

This summer, they appear to be more focused on strengthening than weeding out unnecessary baggage, as most of that had been done last summer. Juve has brought in Portuguese defender João Mario from Porto for a fee of €13m, midfielder Francisco Conceicao from Porto for a fee of €32m, Canadian forward Jonathan David on a free transfer from Lille, French defender Pierre Kalulu from Milan for a fee of €14m, goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio from Monza for a fee of €14m, and Argentinian midfielder Nico Gonzalez from Fiorentina for a fee of €28m.

They are also working on deals to bring back Randal Kolo Muani, while there are rumours linking them to other top-quality targets. Should those deals be completed, the Old Lady should be adequately prepared to face the challenges of the upcoming season.

But it remains to be seen if Igor Tudor is the man who will return Juventus to the pinnacle of Italian football. 

You can buy Juventus FC tickets here on Seatsnet.com.

AC Milan

AC Milan made several signings last summer, but those additions did little to help, as they finished in 8th place, 19 points behind Napoli. 

But things are looking good for the Rossoneri faithful, who have seen the return of former title-winning coach Max Allegri. The former Juventus boss returns to the club after an 11-year absence. 

While the excitement over Allegri’s return is understandable, there is also the feeling that the 57-year-old is an expired genius. For starters, his last spell at Juventus did not yield any meaningful progress, leading to scepticism that he may fail in his second spell at the San Siro.

The transfer activity of the Rossoneri has also raised scepticism among fans and holders of AC Milan tickets. Milan has released many of their players and has only signed a few replacements, including veteran midfielder Luka Modric, who is considered to be way past his best to make any meaningful impact at the San Siro.

Still, the fact that Milan is not participating in Europe makes things less complicated for them this season. Should their current players manage to stay free from injuries, Milan has what it takes to mount a top-four finish. 

Atalanta 

Atalanta is increasingly looking like a team that has hit its peak and is now in decline. After winning the Europa League in the 2023/24 season, it was thought that Atalanta would kick on to perform well in the league.

But, despite their best efforts, they fell short at the critical juncture. Much of their failures were attributed to a lack of squad depth. Still, those problems are yet to be fixed. 

Atalanta’s transfer activities have failed to address the critical issues the team is facing. They appear unlikely to be able to keep Ademola Lookman at the club, making things even more complex for a club that is looking to move on and establish a new path to success after several successful years under Gian Piero Gasperini. 

Gaspetini’s replacement, Ivan Juric, has a lot of fight on his hands in getting fans to trust him, given that he suffered relegation in his last first-team post. The former Southampton coach will aim to maintain the status of Atalanta tickets as one of the most sought-after Serie A tickets. 

Como

Como may not be one of the top sides in Serie A, but they are building a team that will arguably compete with the other big teams in terms of quality.

Cesc Fabregas’ team comfortably finished in mid-table last season, but are targeting a better placement this year. This is judging by their transfer activity, with Como spending close to €104m on squad additions this summer. 

While they are not expected to be in the title race or even top-four position, it is not inconceivable to name Como as one of the sides with a good chance of doing well this season, given their transfer activities. Having done well in their first season, Como ticket buyers will be expecting another successful campaign.