Pre-season guide to fantasy Serie A 2021/2022

August 20, 2021

by xfcedi

serie a preview 2021/22

Eduard Bănulescu

It’s being billed as one of the most exciting and contested Serie A seasons in years. Many of the league’s top teams have changed managers. Clubs have worked hard to improve their squads. And, most importantly, Italy has won the European Championship. These all seem like ingredients for a potent recipe this season.

In our pre-season guide, we attempt to break down the most important Serie A news ahead of a new campaign. Which player should be on your radar? What are the most important transfers in the league? And, how should you prepare your fantasy football draft.

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Serie A teams 2021/2022

AC Milan

Players to watch:

Mike Maignan: – It is true that Maignan will have big gloves to fill. After all, AC Milan has just lost Gigi Donnarumma, Italy’s Euro 2020 hero, this summer. At Lille, however, Maignan impressed and always looked ready to take one step upwards.

Olivier Giroud: – Giroud has the achievements to be viewed as one of the top strikers of his generation. However, he rarely is viewed in this light these days. The move to Milan could be exactly what the Frenchman requires in order to jump-start his career.

Notes: Stefano Pioli is one of the only managers of a top Italian side to retain his position for a new season. Last season saw the Rossoneri, once again, court success. The numerous fans of the side will know this had not happened in a while. They finished in second place in the 2020/21 season of Serie A. Naturally, hopes are that the team can do one better. While additions have been made to the squad, the overarching feeling is that AC Milan may struggle to play in numerous competitions at once, but that a surprise could be in the cards should their top players be at their very best.

Notable transfers

Transfers InTransfers Out
Fikayo Tomori – ChelseaHakan Calhanoglu – Inter Milan
Mike Maignan – LOSC LilleGianluigi Donnarumma – PSG

Atalanta

Players to watch:

Joakim Maehle: – Maehle had a sensational Euro 2020 tournament for Denmark. His terrific display earned him a transfer from Genk to Atalanta. Highly motivated and highly skilled, there’s every reason to keep an eye on this player.

Robin Gosens: – At Euro 2020, Gosens proved what we already know. He is one of the best left wing-backs in modern football. It’s hard to imagine the German international not performing, once again, at the highest level.

Notes: Atalanta has been playing the role of The little team could for a while now. Last season they finished in third place and reached the Coppa Italia final. While maintaining their position will be a difficult task, Gian Piero Gasperini will know that he has a core made up of the most capable player in Serie A for this task.

Notable transfers

Transfers InTransfers Out
Cristian Romero – JuventusAndreas Cornelius – Parma
Juan Musso – UdineseMusa Barrow – Bologna

Bologna FC 1909

Players to watch:

Marko Arnautovic: – Arnautovic’s return to Europe must have come as something of a surprise for most football fans. Still, it can be explained, in part, by his good displays at Euro 2020 and a souring of sentiments with his previous Chinese employers. The Austrian is an experienced forward and could be a great addition to fantasy football.

Kevin Bonifazi: – Bonifazi has proven to be a consistent performer in which Mihajlovic can place his trust. Last season he played in 30 matches for Bologna, announcing himself as a reliable and tough defender.

Notes: Bologna last season achieved what, we presume, they set out to do. The team finished in 12the place, comfortably above the relegation line. Lead by charismatic manager Sinisa Mihajlovic, the Rossoblu will be hoping for much of the same this year.

Notable transfers

Transfer InTransfers Out
Marko Arnautovic – SH PortAndrea Poli – Antalyaspor
Sydney van Hooijdonk – NAC BredaMusa Juwara – Crotone

Cagliari

Players to watch:

Razvan Marin: – Marin may have missed his chance to impress for Ajax, but he seems to have found a home in Serie A. The Romanian played almost every single match for Cagliari last season and impressed in many of them.

Diego Godin: – There’s no way to overlook Godin’s incredible experience and work ethic. The Uruguayan defender was instrumental in helping Cagliari avoid the drop last season and more of the same will be expected of him this year.

Notes: Cagliari is a beloved Italian club that is looking to establish a tradition of positive results. Still, last season they struggled with relegation concerns. They finished the season in 16th place, just four shy of the drop. In spite of a good deal of experience that their side boasts, this season doesn’t promise to be easier.

Notable transfers

Transfers InTransfers Out
Boris Radunovic – AtalantaSenna Miangue – Cercle Bruges
Dalbert – Inter (loan)

Empoli

Players to watch:

Leonardo Mancuso: – Mancuso is a player of considerable experience, albeit not in Serie A. The striker was even signed for Juventus in 2018, although he didn’t start a single game. For Empoli, he has a goal ratio of nearly a goal every two games. Fantasy football managers will want to keep an eye on Mancuso.

Simone Romagnoli: – Romagnoli, similarly to some of his teammates, spent his career journeying throughout Italy. He had the best years of his career playing for Empoli. His experience should come in handy trying to keep the club afloat this year.

Notes: Empoli is back in Serie A. They dominated Serie B last season, finishing 1st in the division. In Leonardo Mancuso they had a striker capable of netting 23 times. Empoli has a great tradition, but it remains to be seen if they’ll be able to rise to the first-tier’s level this season.

Notable transfers

Transfers inTransfers Out
Liam Henderson – LecceDimitrios Nikolaou – Spezia
Ardian Ismajli – SpeziaSamuel Mraz – Spezia

Fiorentina

Players to watch:

Dusan Vlahovic: – Vlahovic is a young Serbian striker that shows immense potential. He’s managed 27 goals since joining the team in 2018. Last season he even managed a hat-trick. Vlahovic may be the most exciting player in the Viola squad at the moment and worth considering for your fantasy football draft.

Bartłomiej Drągowski: – It’s been a relatively long journey for Dragowski to become Fiorentina’s #1. However, many now consider him one of the best goalkeepers in Serie A. Now that he has managed to become the team’s top keeper, it’s doubtful he won’t maintain his position.

Notes: There’s no way around the fact that last season was a disappointment for Viola supporters. Used with the Fiorentina battling for the top positions in Serie A, they had to settle for a measly 13th place. Some changes have been put in place, and expectations are higher for the new campaign.

Notable transfers

Transfers InTransfers Out
Igor Julio – SPALJulian Illanes – Pescara
Nicolas Gonzalez – VFB StuttgartMartin Caceres

Genoa

Players to watch:

Goran Pandev: – Pandev has had such a great season at 38 years of age, that he has signed on for another season playing for Genoa. It’s not just his goals, but also his leadership that the team will depend on this season.

Valon Behrami: – A few years ago, Behrami was viewed as one of the most talented players Switzerland had to offer. Sadly for him, he was not included in the squad for Euro 2020, the one that managed the performance for the team yet. Given the impressive list of teams he has played for, Behrami will be highly motivated to perform well this season.

Notes: Last season, Genoa stabilized. They finished 11th, greatly improving over previous campaigns. The team regularly gave Serie A’s toughest team a run for their money. This year, they will try and build upon that success with Davide Ballardini, once again, at the helm.

Notable transfers

Transfers InTransfers Out
Caleb Ekuban – TrabzonsporTiago Goncalves – Messina
Alberto Paleari – CittadellaEldor Schomurodov – AS Roma

Inter Milan

Players to watch:

Niccolo Barella: – Barella is now a European champion, a winner of the Scudetto, and one of the best defensive midfielders in the world. Expectations are high that the player will come through, once more, for Inter.

Milan Skriniar: – Inter’s defense last season was air-tiht. Skriniar is among the player that made this happen. The Slovak player looks to have reached the peak of his playing abilities and will be a force to be reckoned with this year. A great choice for your fantasy football draft.

Notes: It looks set to be an interesting, albeit, difficult season for Inter Milan. The team won the Scudetto last year, triumphing over-familiar rivals like Juventus and AC Milan. However, they’ve lost their manager, Antonio Conte, and many of their star players during the summer. Still, Inter, even on a poor day, is a hard team to deny, an fans could end up being pleasantly surprised by the Nerazzurri.

Notable transfers

Transfers InTransfers Out
Edin Dzeko – AS RomaRomelu Lukaku – Chelsea
Denzel Dumfries – PSVAchraf Hakimi – PSG

Juventus

Players to watch:

Federico Chiesa: – Chiesa’s transfer to Juventus looked like something of an anomaly last season. After an incredible Euro 2020 campaign and a good season all around, it now looks like a touch of brilliance. Great pick for your fantasy football team.

Paulo Dybala: – Reports suggest that manager Allegri wants to build a new team around the talent of Argentinian winger Paulo Dybala. His performances, which are occasionally fantastic, should increase as a result.

Notes: Juventus, as usual, begins the Serie A season as the clear favorite team to win it. This time though some things are different. Juve has lost the title to Inter, and they’ve changed managers. Massimiliano Allegri previously brought national glory to the club but may have his work cut out for this time around.

Notable transfers

Transfers InTransfers Out
Weston McKennie – Shalke 04Cristian Romero – Atalanta
Gianluigi Buffon – Parma

Lazio

Players to watch:

Ciro Immobile: – Immobile played nearly every game at Euro 2020. Italy won the tournament. Still, the competition left many wondering about Immobile’s presumed world-class status. Still, he remains one of the most efficient strikers in Serie A.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic: – Milinkovic is the beating heart of this team. Naturally, he is also a player that has been on the radar of top club across the continent. It looks like the midfielder is staying put for now. He should likely continue to be one of the best midfielders in the league.

Notes: Lazio is in an interesting position. For years they’ve battled against the top Serie A sides without the financial backing that some of their rivals can muster. This season, it feels like the Biancocelesti begin with rather fewer expectations than normally. They have a new manager in Maurizio Sarri and a squad that is only slightly less impressive than last season. It remains to be seen how the team will adapt.

Notable transfers

Transfers InTransfers Out
Felipe Anderson – West Ham UnitedSenad Lulic
Dimitrijie Kamenovic – Cukaricki

Napoli

Players to watch:

Victor Osimhen: – He is one of the most talented players active in Europe. However, last season, injuries did not give him the opportunity to really get into the pace of things in Serie A. This season could mean a dramatic improvement for the Nigerian.

Lorenzo Insigne: – Insigne is Napoli’s most emblematic player and, consequently, their captain. A lot is expected from one of the most talented Italian players of his generation.

Notes: Napoli is back in search of former glory. Last season the team had occasional great moments. However, overall, it was deemed a failure. As a consequence, manager Gennaro Gattuso was replaced by veteran Luciano Spaletti. Napoli are one of the most beloved teams in the country and should also benefit from the talents of a few of the best players in the league.

Notable transfers

Transfers InTransfers Out
Matteo Politano – Inter MilanNikola Maksimovic
Elseid Hysaj

AS Roma

Players to watch:

Eldor Azamat Shomurodov: – The Uzbek forward is a new arrival to AS Roma, and tipped by many for great things. The player did well in his sole season in Serie A, playing for Genoa. At 26 years old, Shomurodov looks ready to reach his full potential.

Bryan Cristante: – Cristante is one of Serie A’s finest defenders in recent years. Having already accumulated a wealth of experience in the Italian top-tier, he should be on the radar of all fantasy football managers.

Notes: Expectations are always high when it comes to AS Roma, one of Italy’s most popular teams. Roma is among the clubs that have opted to change managers. Jose Mourinho’s arrival has been one of the main stories in Italian sports in past months. Mourinho already seems to be making changes to the side. It remains to be seen if this turns out to be the comeback the manager’s fans demand.

Notable transfers

Transfers InTransfers Out
Roger Ibanez – AtalantaBruno Peres – Trabzonspor
Tammy Abraham – ChelseaJuan Jesus

Salernitana

Players to watch:

Francesco Di Tacchio: – Di Tacchio is the captain of Salernitana. The midfielder has spent most of his career playing for lower-tier clubs in Italy. Regardless, he has earned a reputation as a series and dependable option. Fantasy football managers may want to consider him as an affordable option.

Joel Obi: – Obi started his career at Inter Milan. He has worn the Nerrazzuri shirt 50 times. Since then he has also played for clubs like Chievo and Torino. His goal tally has never been very high. However, Salernitana could be the place where the Nigerian starts mounting a career revival.

Notes: It’s bound to be a special season for Salernitana regardless of results. The Italian side’s 103rd year of existence is also the first in which they’ll play in Serie A. Staying up will not be easy, but the North Italian team will be giving it their own.

Notable transfers

Transfers InTransfers Out
Grigoris Kastanos – Juventus (loan)Felipe Curcio – Padova
Vincenzo Fiorillo – PescaraIacopo Cernigoi – Seregno

Sampdoria

Players to watch:

Fabio Quagliarella: – Yes, Quagliarella is still playing and doing it very well. He remains, perhaps, his side’s biggest goal threats. This might be worrying were it not for the strikers’ strong showing in the previous couple of campaigns.

Ronaldo Vieira: – Vieira has been a highly touted wonderkid for a few years now. He arrived at Sampdoria from Leeds in 2018. last season he was loaned out to Verona. Although he did not play much, we think that this could be the season where he finally shows the extent of his abilities.

Notes: Sampdoria has, by now, reestablished itself as a consistent and dependable presence in Serie A. Last season they finished in 9th place. It’s a satisfying conclusion to the campaign, and one they’ll look to build upon under manager Roberto D’Aversa.

Notable transfers

Transfers InTransfers Out
Matteo Esposito – Juve StabiaGaston Ramirez
Manuel De Luca

Francesco Caputo: – Caputo may just be one of the most underrated players in the whole of Serie A. He’s netted a goal, practically, every couple of games for Sassuolo since joining. He’s even earned a couple of call-ups to the Italian national team. And, we think he would make a splendid addition to your fantasy football draft.

Domenico Berardi: – Berardi should be familiar to most football fans after Euro 2020. The tenacious winger could turn out to have a breakout season. It remains to be seen if all of it will be spent at Sassuolo

Notes: Sassuolo was to surprise the package of last season. And, although it’s clear that they are bound to lose some of their best players, it looks like there’s significant interest for Sassuolo to try and build for more significant success.

Notable transfers

Transfers InTransfers Out
Pietro Cianci – Teramo Manuel Locatelli – Juventus
Ruan Tressoldi – Gremio

Kevin Amian: – The right-back arrived from Toulouse for a hefty amount of cash given Spezia’s position. He is only 23 years old and has already accumulated nearly 150 games in the top tier of French football. Here’s a player worthy of keeping tabs on.

M’Mabala Nzola: – Nzola often came good when it mattered most last season, The Angolan striker netted 11 goals for Spezia. He remains a good, affordable option for fantacalcio this season as well.

Notable transfers

Transfers InTransfers Out
Petko Hristov – FiorentinaSveinn Gudjohnsen – Elfsborg
Kelvin Amian – ToulouseArdian Ismajli – Empoli

Torino F.C.

Players to watch:

Salvatore Sirigu: – He may have a lot of work to do at Torino. However, there’s no doubt that Sirigu is one of the best keepers in Serie A. A great choice for your fantacalcio squad.

Andrea Belotti: – Belotti is thought by many to be one of the best Italian strikers of his generation. He is a member of the Italian national team. And, he has constantly had offers to move away from Torino. He has decided to stay and continues to be the team’s biggest goal threat.

Notes: Torino has taken a few steps backward with last season’s performance. They finished 17th. Most importantly, I Granata struggled for most of the campaign. They still have some of the most experienced players in Serie A at their disposal as they try to redeem themselves.

Notable transfers

Transfers In Transfers In
Magnus Warming – Lyngby BKSoualiho Meite – Benfica
Dennis Stojkovic – Partizan BelgradLucas Boye – Elche

Udinese

Players to watch:

Gerard Deulofeu: – Joining Udinese was designed as a way to improve a declining football career for Deulofeu. It’s worked. His contract became permanent in 2021 and good things are expected of the Spaniard. A good, affordable option for your fantasy draft.

Marco Silvestri: – Silvestri is a well-tenured goalkeeper that has accumulated numerous matches in Serie A for various sides. He’s been brought in this summer with a view of improving the team’s goalscoring record. Should be kept on your fantacalcio radar.

Notes: Udinese was another important Italian team scrambling for form last season. Le Zebrette opted to allow Luca Gotti to guide the team throughout the campaign. The manager took the team to 14th place. An improvement will be asked for this time around and the club should have the ambition and resources to make this happen.

Notable transfers

Transfers InTransfers Out
Marco Silvestri – Hellas VeronaKevin Bonifazi – Bologna
Lazar Samardzic – RB LeipzigRodrigo De Paul – Atletico Madrid

Venezia FC

Players to watch:

Francesco Forte: – Forte was the team’s top goalscorer, putting the ball in the net 14 times. He may not be a household name. However, his time spent playing for numerous clubs will have taught him to try and take his opportunity on the highest stage when it reveals itself.

Mattia Aramu: – Like many of his colleagues, Aramu has spent his career shuffling between clubs. He has been with Venezia since 2019. His 6 assists and 9 goals contributed greatly to the team’s current position. Aramu is a player that is worth considering for fantasy football.

Notes: Venezia is a team of 114 years of proud history. Following a turbulent few years, the I Leoni alati return to Serie A. Staying up will not be easy. But, if their achievement of managing to rise in five years from Serie D to the first-tier proved anything, this is a resilient side.

Notable transfers

Transfers InTransfers Out
David Okereke – Club BrugesEmanuele Cigagna – Vibonese Calcio
Mattia Caldara – AC MilanHarvey St. Clair – Seregno

Hellas Verona

Players to watch:

Davide Faraoni: – Faraoni is one of the most exciting young players in Serie A. Given his excellent and consistent form, Verona will struggle to hold on to him for long. As long as he is representing them though, Verona can make use of one of the league’s finest right-backs

Mattia Zaccagni: – Zaccagni is another player who was among the best fantasy football picks last season. Again, Verona has their work cut out for them in trying to keep hold of the player with many clubs, naturally, interested. For the time being, Zaccagni should help make Helas be a better side.

Notes: Hellas Verona was one of last season’s more pleasant surprises. The team managed to reach 10th place, securing their second season in a row in the top flight. Furthermore, some of their players impressed highly. Eusebio Di Francesco is going to try and improve upon that success knowing that the team’s opponents have also improved.

Notable transfers

Transfers InTransfers Out
Alan Empereur – PalmeirasMariusz Stepiski – Aris Limassol FC
Gianluca Frabotta – Juventus IIMatteo Lovato – Atalanta

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