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<p>The summer transfer window is not a point of celebration for <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/teams/juventus-tv-schedule/">Juventus</a> fans in recent years.</p>
<p>For one, the quality of the current squad is far below the level necessary to contend in a competitive <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/serie-a-tv-schedule">Serie A</a>. Then, the decisions from the upper management in the club failed to rectify any of these shortcomings. This reflects and understanding of how or aspiration to do what it takes to improve the squad.</p>
<h5>Juventus’s shortcomings</h5>
<p>Let’s start with the club’s back line. In recent seasons, Alex Sandro underperformed. Yet, Juventus shows little interest in finding a replacement in that position. At center back, there is no serioud indication of pursuing an upgrade. Keep in mind that Juventus lost the services of both Giorgio Chiellini and Mattias de Ligt, who transferred to LAFC and Bayern Munich, respectively.</p>
<p>Further up the pitch, the <em>Bianconeri</em> boast a strong midfield three. Locatelli, Zakaria and the return of Paul Pogba is a great trio of skill and strength. However, the lack of depth could become an issue for Max Allegri. Adrian Rabiot disappointed throughout his time in Turin. While Allegri deployed Danilo as a midfielder, that is not his natural position.</p>
<p>Juve grapples with those same issues up top in the wake of Paulo Dyaba’s departure. Federico Chiesa hopes to return to training with the first team in September. Provided he can pick up his form before injury, he is part of a talented front line. Dušan Vlahović and Ángel Di María join the Italian to form one of Italy and Europe’s best front lines. However, it is far from a guarantee that Chiesa can immediately make an impact that rivals what he put out at Euro 2020. Plus, at 34 years old, Di María likely needs rest to recuperate throughout the season.</p>
<p>That leaves Allegri with just Moise Kean as an alternative, but the forward has yet to convince that he can fill that void.</p>
<h3>Juventus summer transfer window</h3>
<p>The gulf in quality between Juve and recent contenders for the Serie A title tightened this transfer window. However, the club’s lineup remains well below the level it was four or five years ago. Back then, the club regularly challenged in the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League. For reference, the club suffered embarrassing eliminations to Ajax, Lyon, Porto and Villarreal in the last four iterations of the competition.&nbsp; If it continues to struggle against sides of that caliber, it faces greater difficulty attracting top players to the Allianz.</p>
<p>It’s true that they did secure the return of Paul Pogba and the signing of Di Maria. The Frenchman’s previous success in Turin played a key role in luring him back to Italy. For Di María, he only joined on a year-long contract and slowly regresses with age.</p>
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Official, confirmed. Paul Pogba signs his contract as new Juventus player, new deal worth €8m net plus add ons until June 2026. Commission around €2.5m. 🚨⚪️⚫️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Juventus?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Juventus</a></p>
<p>Pogba, back at Juventus on a free transfer after being sold for €100m six years ago. <a href="https://t.co/CmhXTO0XUH">pic.twitter.com/CmhXTO0XUH</a></p>
<p>— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) <a href="https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1546424671289151488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2022</a></p></blockquote></div>
<p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Still, Juventus’s ability to land players of their pedigree is a rare step in the right direction. The likes of Aaron Ramsey, Adrian Rabiot and Danilo marked the club’s major transfers in previous summers. Unsurprisingly, the Old Lady lost its grip on Serie A and success in the UEFA Champions League.</p>
<h5>Managing the squad</h5>
<p>Allegri, meanwhile, could be forgiven for the Old Lady’s underwhelming season given its state when he took charge last summer. Juventus had scraped by to fourth place only because Napoli relinquished the position on the final day of the 2020-2021 season, and had ultimately failed to produce the attacking, progressive football it had aimed to deliver under Maurizio Sarri and Andrea Pirlo.</p>
<p>Though Allegri’s ultra-defensive brand of football had yielded much success in his previous spell at the club, it is unlikely to please supporters if it does not result in any meaningful challenge for silverware. Unless, the club demonstrate significant progress in their performances and ability to compete for titles, more supporters will question <a href="https://totalfootballanalysis.com/article/massimiliano-allegri-juvetnus-serie-a-tactical-analysis-tactics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Allegri’s methods</a> and his ability to lead this side forward.</p>
<p>Ultimately though, Juventus’s upper management bears the greatest share of responsibility for the club’s decline over the past four years. Juventus’s summer transfer window are steps in the right direction. Yet, the state of its squad is a good mile off the standard necessary to contend at the continent’s highest level.</p>
<p><em>PHOTO: Daniele Badolato – Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images</em></p>


Despite a strong Juventus summer transfer window, the Old Lady still lacks the depth and talent of its Serie A rivals.

Juventus summer transfer window holds special significance - World Soccer Talk

Juventus summer transfer window holds special significance

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<p>The thrilling Serie A campaign came to a slightly anticlimactic close. Milan smashed Sassuolo 3-0 in a <em>do-or-die</em> game. Yet, this season had no shortage of ups and downs for the <em>Rossoneri</em>. A well-earned summit to top Serie A yields a summer-long celebration.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the club’s city rivals ponder how the title slipped out of their hands.</p>
<h5>Preseason expectations</h5>
<p>Coming into the season, both teams set reasonable objectives. Simply put, qualification for the UEFA Champions League is a must. Inter, the defending Serie A winners, put together a hectic transfer window in the summer of 2021. Key departures included Romelu Lukaku, Achraf Hakimi and Christian Eriksen. However, the most important asset to not return was manager Antonio Conte. His title-winning side was disbanded piece-by-piece. Consequently, title aspirations faded slightly.</p>
<p>On the other side of Milano, anticipation was high. In 2021/22, Milan finished second to Inter, an impressive result for a generally young side. In 2021/22, a title challenge seemed plausible.</p>
<p>Neither team brought in any huge name due to financial limitations. Rather, both Milan sides solidified depth and did their best to replace the moving pieces. The most controversial move of the summer was most certainly that of Hakan Çalhanoğlu. The Turkish international switched his allegiance from red to blue. Essentially, he replaced Christian Eriksen.</p>
<p>Serie A’s ongoing manager carousel had 11 new managers in charge at the start of the 21/22 season. New hires Maurizio Sarri and Jose Mourinho received ambitious transfer windows from the Roman clubs. It set the stage for a season to remember. Serie A did not disappoint.</p>
<h3>Deciding the Serie A title in Milan</h3>
<h5>Early starts</h5>
<p>The start of the season was exhilarating. The Nerrazzuri thumped Genoa 4-0, with hot topic Çalhanoğlu contributing on two goals in a dream debut. All of Serie A’s top sides won in matchday one aside from Juventus, who were held to a disappointing draw. Juventus’s struggles pushed along the agenda that this season’s Serie A title was as unpredictable as possible.</p>
<p>Napoli, Milan and Inter were all off to strong starts. After seven matchdays, all three clubs held an undefeated record.</p>
<p>As European competitions kicked off, <a href="https://www.worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/serie-a-tv-schedule">Serie A</a>’s top sides rested key players with often-limited depth. Therefore, performances stagnated domestically. After a shock loss to Sarri’s Lazio, Inter found itself a few steps behind title challengers Napoli and Milan. Then, a heartbreaking collapse in the final minute to bitter rivals Juventus in the <em>Derby d’Italia</em> left the Nerazzurri even further off the pace.</p>
<p>Milan and Napoli continued to impress. Defensive solidity made up for the lack of goals scored by both teams. Fans highly anticipated the <em>Derby della Madonnina</em>&nbsp; in the weeks approaching the match. Both teams looked prime to challenge for the Scudetto. Moreover, the <em>Rossoneri</em> was undefeated heading into the derby.</p>
<h5><em>Derby della Madonnina</em></h5>
<p>The match came off to a roaring start, with former Milan player Çalhanoğlu netting the game’s opening goal from the spot. However, Milan’s quick reply levelled the game, and Lautaro Martinez’s failure to convert from the match’s second penalty kick proved fatal. The match ended in a thrilling 1-1 draw. On one hand, Milan did well to fend off its city rivals.</p>
<p>However, AC Milan lost the next two of its league games to Fiorentina and Sassuolo. On the bright side for Milan supporters, Napoli’s undefeated run came to an end as well. Yet, the team to end it was Inter, which scored three unanswered to win.</p>
<h5>Inter’s winter surge</h5>
<p>After 14 matchdays, the <a href="https://www.legaseriea.it/en/serie-a/league-table" rel="noopener" target="_blank">top of the table</a> was extremely tight. Four points separated first-place Napoli with third-place Inter. However, the start of December saw uncharacteristically strong performances from Pazza Inter. Ironically, Inter is often famous for its winter collapses. In fact, a 10-game unbeaten streak starting from their match against Juventus in mid-October saw them steamroll into top spot heading into the new year. Inter sat four points ahead of Milan and seven on top of Napoli, which dipped in December.</p>
<p>The <em>Nerazzurri</em> started 2022 just as they had left off. A key victory against Lazio had confidence at an all-time high ahead of their Supercoppa final against Juventus. The final was a thrilling affair. Alexis Sanchez came off the bench to score the winner in the match’s dying embers.</p>
<p>Life for Inter seemed magical at the time. At the end of January, Inter held a 4-point lead over both Milan and Napoli. However, Inter’s magical run came to an abrupt halt in February.</p>
<h5>A second <em>Derby della Madonna</em></h5>
<p>The first match in February was the much-anticipated Derby della Madonnina. A win for Milan would close the gap with its rivals to just one point.</p>
<p>A tense affair, the match entered half time with Inter leading courtesy of an Ivan Perišić finish. However, quick goals from Olivier Giroud inspired the <em>Rossoneri</em> to a dream comeback victory in the derby.</p>
<p>The win secured head-to-head advantage over Inter. Then, a draw between Inter and Napoli the following week shot Milan to the top of Serie A.</p>
<p>Liverpool knocked out Inter Milan from the UEFA Champions League in a cagey two legs. Now, Inter had full focus on domestic competition. Yet, goalscoring struggles loomed large. Inter picked up two draws on the bounce against midtable opponents Torino and Fiorentina. Meanwhile, Napoli and Milan continued their winning ways and extended the lead at the top.</p>
<p>After 19 matches, Inter sat nine points adrift of the title challengers. A crucial <em>Derby d’Italia&nbsp;</em>against Juventus could have ended all of Inter’s hopes. However, a spot-kick goal from Çalhanoğlu provided the difference as the San Siro side held off Juventus. Also, Milan drewback-to-back games, and Inter was right back in the title fold.</p>
<div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-387869" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20220531_WST_387836_Inter-Milan-Bologna.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=725" alt="" width="1200" height="725" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/05/Inter-Milan-Bologna.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/05/Inter-Milan-Bologna-600x363.jpg 600w, https://worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/05/Inter-Milan-Bologna-150x91.jpg 150w, https://worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/05/Inter-Milan-Bologna-768x464.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></div>
<h5>Shock defeat for the defending champions</h5>
<p>Midweek, Inter had the opportunity to close the gap at the top. Inter faced Bologna in a match postponed since December. Many ticked off the game as a certain victory for Inter. The <em>Nerazzurri</em> travelled to Bologna with the Serie A title in their sights.</p>
<p>The match came off to a dream start. Ivan Perišić scored a beautiful goal in the opening minutes. However, a quick response from former Inter player Marko Arnautović levelled the game heading into the second half. Inter struggled to finish their chances, and the game remained level for much of the second half. With 10 minutes remaining, disaster struck. Deputy goalkeeper Ionuț Radu miscontrolled a back pass, and Nicola Sansone jumped on the loose ball. Sansone hammered home a shock goal for Sinisa Mihajlović’s men.</p>
<p>Inter failed to come up with a response. In the end, Simone Inzaghi’s side suffered a bitter defeat, and the Scudetto slipped from Inter’s grasp. Later, Rafael Leão slotted home the game winner for Milan to snatch a key victory against <em>La Viola</em>.</p>
<h5>Milan claims the Serie A title</h5>
<p>With just 3 matches to go, Milan needed 7 points to win the Scudetto for the first time in over a decade. However, this was no easy task. The club’s remaining matches featured Hellas Verona, Atalanta and Sassuolo. Few consider these fixtures pushovers by any stretch of the word.</p>
<p>The following matchday, Inter kept its last hopes alive with four unanswered goals to come back against Empoli, 4-2. However, the result did not faze Milan. A 3-1 victory away to Hellas Verona put AC Milan even closer to the Scudetto. Compounding the anticipation, Milan comfortably cast aside Atalanta. The pair of victories meant the club needed just one point in the final game of the season to secure its 19<sup>th</sup> Serie A title.</p>
<p>The only problem, the final match was against Sassuolo – a team that had defeated them 3-1 in the reverse fixture. Led by boyhood Inter supporters Domenico Berardi and Giacomo Raspadori, Sassuolo looked set to put up a fight against the <em>Rossoneri</em>. With anticipation heating up throughout the week, tension reached a boiling point ahead of the opening whistle. Milan started ferociously from the first minute and rampaged the <em>Neroverdi</em> goal. Olivier Giroud found the icebreaker inside 17 minutes. The Frenchman doubled the advantage just 15 minutes later. At halftime, the lead ballooned to three with Franck Kessie all but <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/05/22/ac-milan-win-first-serie-a-title-since-2011/">securing the Scudetto for Milan</a>. Inter’s win in the final matchday was now a moot point.</p>
<h5>2022/23</h5>
<p>A hard-fought season had come to a close. Finally, the <em>Rossoneri</em> celebrated a historic victory. Milan lifted the Scudetto for the first time in over a decade. Milan fans filled the streets while Inter supporters were left heartbroken after such a competitive campaign. Looking forward to the 22/23 season, Milan teams return to fight for the Serie A title.</p>
<p>However, this summer determines whether Allegri’s Juventus side or Spalletti’s Napoli can join the title fight. Regardless, congratulations are in order to <em>Rossoneri</em> fans on a well-fought season. Consequently, commiserations go to Inter. The club had it all in its hands, only to watch it crumble.</p>
<p><em>PHOTOS: Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images, Matteo Ciambelli/vi/DeFodi Images via Getty Images</em></p>


The Serie A title was the property of Juventus for a decade. However, it came down to a pair of Milan sides in 2021/22.

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Juventus summer transfer window holds special significance

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How the Serie A title came down to the two Milan clubs