With just over a fortnight until some of the biggest football leagues kick off in Europe, a few aspects have recently dawned on me.
Firstly, while we will witness many highlights over the course of the next nine months, it’s unlikely the leading Serie A teams will be in a position to dominate in Europe as they once did.
The financial reality recently referred to on these pages is perhaps best illustrated by the SBOTOP Serie A 2026 betting odds, and then see how they compare with our equivalent Champions League betting odds. Alas, that discussion is for later in the season.
There is still much to look forward to, mind, and, arguably, the most exciting transfer news involves one of the sides on the periphery. That is not being disrespectful to Fiorentina, but the Viola finished in 15th place in the standings last term, only three places (albeit a good eight points clear) of the relegation zone.
Their pending signing this week will excite many in the football hotbed of Florence. Franco Mastantuono was certainly given a rapturous response from the Fiorentina supporters ahead of the formal completion of his loan move from Real Madrid. The 18-year-old is set to join on a season-long deal, with Real set to contribute part of the player’s salary.
In many ways, neither club can lose. Real see one of their young talents gain valuable experience in a top European league and, potentially, come back a more rounded performer.
Fiorentina get to showcase a talented teen, who already has a full season of La Liga and Champions League football under his belt, and hopefully inspire a big improvement.
Without expecting too much too soon for someone of such tender years, Real clearly have high hopes, or they would not have spent €45 million to sign him from River Plate last summer.
Fiorentina have also completed the permanent signing of defender Victor Valdepenas Talavera from Real. The 19-year-old, who came through Real’s academy, made his La Liga debut last December and has also represented Spain at under-19 level, earning five international appearances. How they fare under new coach Fabio Grosso – a World Cup winner with Italy 20 years ago – will be one to watch.
Among other players to watch out for are France striker Randal Kolo Muani, back in Turin with Juventus after, surprisingly, a pretty uninspiring spell with Spurs in England. Juve know all about him and have snapped him up permanently from European champions PSG following a successful loan spell in 2025.
In other Serie A 2026 updates, Roma and Bologna have been trading with the club from the capital, acquiring 21-year-old frontman Santiago Castro in a reported €35 million deal as Artem Dovbyk moves the other way.
The move will definitely strengthen Roma’s attack ahead of their first Champions League campaign in eight seasons after finishing third in Serie A last season.
Champions Inter Milan have gone for experience with John Stones signing a two-year deal following a successful decade with Manchester City, where he won 20 major trophies.
While some Italian deals have been pretty astute, they have been nowhere near the level some clubs have plundered in the Premier League.
City, double cup winners and Premier League runners-up last term, wasted no time in acquiring the services of midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for a fee reportedly in the region of £116 million.
Then there was Spurs. Not content with some smart free moves from Andy Robertson (Liverpool) and Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth), they splashed the cash like never before by pouncing for Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for around £100 million and West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes for £85 million.
Add in Brighton centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke, costing in the region of £50 million, and you can see why there is no way they will even contemplate a repeat of last season’s scare, which only saw them survive on the final day.
As for the champions themselves, any day now Arsenal are expected to confirm the deal for Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes, hot on the heels of a frustrated manager Eddie Howe.
What must fans of the Geordies think as a new era begins – one which, in the opinion of this observer, throws up a huge question mark against the football knowledge of the club’s owners.
It also leads to my final point. This is the first time in a long time that the English top flight has not had a big managerial beast.
Pep Guardiola was the only remaining elite boss and his summer departure means there are now no managerial heavyweights left. The new season provides a big opportunity for someone to try and join that elite club over the next few years.
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