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Serie A: Serie A threatens to return to Europe again… without millions or big stars


sFor the first time in history There are five Italian teams in the semifinals of three European competitions simultaneously. It didn’t happen in the 80s or 90s, when “Sette Sorelle” from “Calcio” also dominated Europe. Or when Udinese is allowed to sign Zico, Turin to Martin Vasquez and Reggiana to Paolo Futre. It was years of glory for the transalpine country, absolute dominance in the old continent, nostalgia and many millions in the bank accounts of the “Calcio” bosses. Berlusconi, Moratti, Agnelli… Now everything has changed, but the results are back in Italy.

Inter and Milan in the Champions League, Rome and Juventus in the European League… and Fiorentina in the conference. Italy has five representatives in the semi-finals of the three UEFA competitions. More than any other country: Spain (2), England (2), the Netherlands (1), Germany (1) and Switzerland (1). In the Champions League, there will certainly be an Italian final in Istanbul, in the European League there may be an Italian final And in convention, one of the biggest favorites comes from Florence.

The teams ranked for the semi-finals of European competitions.

The teams ranked for the semi-finals of European competitions.

And It is curious that the two best teams in Serie A 2022/23 are not among the best in Europe. This is the situation Naples (Expelled from the quarter-finals of the Champions League by AC Milan) and Lazio (He was eliminated in the Conference Round of 16 against Arizona.) “No, it’s not surprising that Italian football celebrates,” Pep Guardiola of England said in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.

No, it is not surprising that Italian football celebrates

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City coach

Milan is great again

The best derby in Europe is played in Milan: the only city with two European champions. And Inter Milan and AC Milan will meet in a Euro derby that aims to be historic for the economic capital of Italy. So far, they have met only twice in European competition … Both brought victories to the “Rossonero”. in 2003, in a semi-final that crippled the north of the country (Milan won the final, then Juventus); 2005, in the quarter-finals (Milan lost the final in Istanbul to Liverpool).

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now, however, Milan and Inter appear once again before the European aristocracy with a completely different face. Neither Berlusconi nor Moratti control the clubs (Now in the hands of America and China, respectively), the teams are also not as great as they were in their days: Pirlo, Gattuso, Seedorf, Kak, Adriano, Crespo, Zanetti … There is less money and the best players in the world don’t sign for Calcio teams. In any case, they are “made” in Italy.

To get here, Milan and Inter took different paths. Inter, when it came to Steven Zhang and Suning, he invested a lot of money in millionaire remittances Which prompted him to win the “Scudetto” with Conte. Then came the epidemic, the Suning Empire collapsed and Inter was left almost helpless… He lives only on what he sells each summer and the income he generates. It was a very high defensive level and Inzaghi’s knowledge of how to compete in two games made it to the semifinals.

Milano, for its part, has recently changed hands: from an American owner to an American owner. If Elliott’s fund won Serie A last year, RedBird Capital would have led Milan to the Champions League semi-finals. And all with a low investment If we compare him with the greats of Europe or with the Prime Minister … The market budget for each summer does not exceed 50-60 million euros and the salary cap is between 6-7 kilograms net per year. As with their neighbours, the Nerazzurri, it is the management of the leader and coach (Stefano Pioli) and the growth of the squad that has taken them to heights unimaginable a few months ago.

Because one thing is clear Serie A has been flying for years. The worst seasons are over… But anyone who says now, in the spring, that some Italian teams had to be among the top four in Europe… is lying.

Lautaro Martin

Lautaro Martinez celebrates a goal with Inter against Benfica.

The European League is possible

The presence of Roma and Juventus in the semi-finals of the Europa League, this time on one side of the penalty area, means a draw The possibility of watching the “Italian Final” in Budapest on May 31. Juventus, which is still owned by the Agnelli family despite Andrea’s departure from the presidency, is “out of place”. Juventus finished third in the Champions League, losing out to the Orange competition.

After beating Nantes and Freiburg, they did the same in the quarter-finals with Sporting CP. Talking to them is different because they are “forced” to respond on the field against teams less ready to win than “La Vecchia Signora”. Torinese, through the team, are title favorites and remain standing despite the disastrous management of their leaders in the past five years that almost sent them to the plate.

Roma, on the other hand, comes in an upward phase. I changed ownership relatively recently and Friedkins came from the US with many millions and winning ideas. After winning the conference last year (Roma’s first title since the 2008 Cup) They found Mourinho the perfect leader for their project. They want to keep winning and winning the Europa League is the most direct way to get back into the Champions League.

Mourinho, in the first squad

Mourinho, in the Olympic squad against Feyenoord.

La Conference, Italian domain

If Roma win the first edition of the Conference League, it is the Italian Fiorentina Vincenzo who will want to take over. It is the team that has scored the most goals and in 2023 it is one of the best clubs in Italy. Like many of those who arrived, everything changed for them when there was a change of ownership. It was Rocco Commisso, a US telecommunications magnate, who bought the club.

Commisso, of Calabrian origin, has invested a large amount of money (despite the sales of Chiesa and Vlahovic …) and aspires to completely reconfigure the club: New stadium and new sports center. This, by the way, will be the largest in Europe. Now, in 2023, his team, Fiorentina, is fighting to win two titles: the Coppa Italia… and the Conference.



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