Italian journalist Michele Criscitiello has given his thoughts on the Scudetto race for next season, predicting that Inter could struggle could defend their league title.
Writing in his editorial for Italian news outlet Tuttomercatoweb.com, the pundit analyzed some of the factors which could affect the outcome of next season’s Serie A title race.
The loss of Moroccan wing-back Achraf Hakimi, for Criscitiello, is a key factor which could weaken the Nerazzurri’s position, while title rivals Juventus could strengthen their squad in the summer.
In the season just past, the Nerazzurri and Bianconeri both had periods of strength, but in the end the superior quality of Inter’s squad and individual players, and the well-established approach of manager Antonio Conte allowed the Nerazzurri to pick up significantly more points during the second half of the season.
Criscitiello does not predict that this state of affairs will continue into next season, with the Bianconeri having re-appointed former head coach Max Allegri and the Nerazzurri having lost Conte, replacing him with former Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi.
Criscitiello explains his predictions in the following way:
“Tomorrow Hakimi will make his move to PSG. A sacrifice that had to be made, but still painful. Losing the best players, and not signing top players to replace them, right after winning a Scudetto, is something to reflect on.”
“At this rate, without doing anything incredible, [Juventus] can once again find themselves (on paper) the new leader of the Italian championship. Not too much. Bring in a capable coach, like Allegri, remove a coach from Inter like Conte, and the game is almost done.”
He further contrasted the scenarios that Inter and Juventus face in the transfer market:
“Additionally, some reinforcements will arrive in the market for Juventus, while Inter lose important players. It will be a championship of this kind, at this rate Juventus will once again be the queen of the eve.”