Rewind back to the yester-years of the late eighties and early nineties, and Serie A stood in even bigger acclaim than the current La Liga.
Arrigo Sacchi’s Milan was deemed to be the greatest club side any football team had ever produced.
Up with the fifties and sixties Hungarian national team, where Ferenc Puskas showed what it truly meant to dominate proceedings, there have been few teams before and since that could throw a worthy stake at what it meant to be at that level.
Since 2007, two Italian teams have won the much-coveted Champions League title but the real stars in recent years have been Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Real Madrid and Barcelona have played tit-for-tat when it comes to entertainment, with the former breaking classic records and re-defining a segment of football history that has been largely untouched since the fifties.
Messi has flourished with the removal of Ronaldinho, who at his peak simply couldn’t be touched by either of the two, regardless of the fact they will go down as era-defining players.
But can a new surge in power that defined many-a-generation, that made fans around the world fall in love with the beautiful game, once again be on the rise?
Recent Champions League performances have shown that Milan, Inter, and Napoli have what it takes to once again solidify Serie A’s legendary identity.
Ironically, the days are passing where every player would jump ship for Barcelona and Real Madrid, the star of Wayne Rooney is not as bright as it once was, and the constant rejections by the 19 year old Neymar to join the two suggests that finally the bright lights of football’s Hollywood may have taken a deflection.
Last week, AC Milan lost to Barcelona 3-2 in what was an erroneous victory more than anything else. Four yellow cards in the first 40 minutes, an own goal by Van Bommel and a dubious penalty which had experts fuming as Barcelona once again came out on top – but what a brilliant game it was.
Firing all cylinders, Milan attacked and pressed constantly, Ibrahimovic put his former team to the sword with a slick shot past Valdes while Prince saw his trademark power shot bend into the back of the net. Coming off a 2-2 draw away at Camp Nou, the Rossoneri should be proud of their performance given the circumstances.
But it wasn’t just Milan who displayed character- Napoli beat Premier League leaders Manchester City through a fantastic double from Edinson Cavani- Italian fans have been talking about him for years now, but this performance truly put him on the map.
City have been trying to sign him but similar to Neymar, sometimes in football it really is about more than just money and big lights- walk through the streets of Napoli and you will see life-sized cardboard cut outs in café’s of the Uruguayan. Not since Maradona has a player shown such promise for the Partenopei.
“I am only focused on Napoli. I am always ready for a challenge and can play in a big league, but I’m very happy doing that in Naples…It doesn’t matter to me if City have increased their interest, because my only ambition is to help Napoli in the Champions League.”
With Napoli’s exclusive line-up of Cavani, Hamsik and Lavezzi, Milan’s Ibrahimovic, Prince, and Silva, and Inter’s Sneijder, Forlan and Cesar, the Champions League have an Italian artillery to contend with, and perhaps given recent performances, they may just have what it takes to take it all the way as Inter did under Mourinho in 2010.
With Carlos Tevez making a possible move to Milan, the proof is in the pudding- the gorgeous coasts of Italy are once again becoming the preferred destination for the world’s football elite.
Colin N
Guest
And where did Alexis Sanchez go to? I agree La Liga is boring, it's a bit like the Scottish league with its dominance from the top two, but there is more talent there than in any other league. Re: your point below, I will look forward to see if happens, but I saw Ganso in the Copa America and I was hugely disappointed. It wasn't that he performed poorly, but his first touch was poor, his ball control was poor. Granted his passing was generally accurate, but he didn't seem to have the overall vision of the top players.
Brian
Guest
I used to watch the Italian League more than any other. Back in the early 90's whoever won it was favourite for the European Cup, even Sampdoria who surprised to win the Scudetto than made the final whilst coming 4th or 5th in Italy. Teams like Parma, Sampdoria, Fiorentina and Lazio gave plenty of competition to the powerhouse club. Where it let itself down is in its organisation. I remember wondering if the Dell'Alpi in Turin was the foggiest place on earth, when compared to the EPL the clubs had outdated stadiums and slowly lost their stars as the likes of Zidane & Crespo moved on. Now its money that talks and the Italian clubs have been lucky to have 2 recent wins given no other team has come close. This years UCL looks to be between Barca, Real & Bayern, Milan for all their might are reliant on players rejected by other big teams Robinho, Ibrahimovic, they are trying to get Tevez. I know Inter beat Barca in 2010 but what are the chances of another Icelandic volcano. With normal preparations I feel the Italian clubs play too slowly to upset the better Spanish teams, but hey as others have said its always when you write the Italians off that they come up and win.
Derry
Guest
Ganso and Lucas r signing to Milan from Santos
Derry
Guest
Cavani would easily break into barca squad, and up until this season players wanted to sign to the two horse league but it's changed this season. I think u done missed the point Colin, serie a is recognized as on the rise after a temp hiatus bu the talent coming out of Italy is incredible. I.e. Sanchez from udinese also neymar has been approached b Madrid and Chelsea formally. He said no which is good. Seria a, brazil and epl r ood leagues but la liga is boring too much dominance. Great article btw
Colin N
Guest
"Messi has flourished with the removal of Ronaldinho, who at his peak simply couldn’t be touched by either of the two, regardless of the fact they will go down as era-defining players." Oh he could. I remember Messi playing Chelsea alongsde Ronaldinho in 2006 and the Argentine was unbelievable, completely outshining the Brazilian, and he was only 17 then! "Ironically, the days are passing where every player would jump ship for Barcelona and Real Madrid, the star of Wayne Rooney is not as bright as it once was, and the constant rejections by the 19 year old Neymar to join the two suggests that finally the bright lights of football’s Hollywood may have taken a deflection." I think more players are jumping ship to Barcelona and Real Madrid than ever before, especially when you consider no team can get near to the talent they possess. Rooney's had a good season this year, he was disappointing last but got back to his best towards the end - a World Cup hangover I believe. Real Madrid and Barcelona have been linked with Neymar (obviously), but I'm not sure if they have made an official approach, especially when he has a 45m Euro price tag on him. Surely, to prove the real strength of Serie A would be if Neymar chose a Serie team over Barce or Real. Will that happen? No. Personally, I just don't think Serie A possesses the talent that the EPL or La Liga does. For example, Robinho was poor Real Madrid and his performances were intermittent at City, Kevin Prince Boatang couldn't get a game for Tottenham. I like Cavani but would he get into Barcelona or Real Madrid's side? I very much doubt it. I'm still not sure about Hamsik either. I've seen him a few times and he's disappointed every time. Perhaps, I'm watching the wrong games, but he hasn't produced anything of note. On a positive note, Serie A is competitive and is exciting to watch for that aspect, but all in all, it seems like an article from a desperate man trying to prove that everybody is wrong and that Serie is well behind the EPL and La Liga. I would say that I enjoy the Bundesliga more as well - the stadiums are more modern and full, the fans are closer to the action and the atmosphere is better, as well as containing some excellent sides.
Peter Harley
Guest
My favourite player in the Serie A is Antonio di Natale, one of the greatest strikers for many years and he lives in a small place called Udine and regularly scores 30 goals per year against quality opposition. Against Roma last Saturday it struggled to contain him with a clear defensive strategy for the bulk of the match, but in the final minutes he broke free. Udinese finished 2-0 winners and are near top of the Serie A as they have been for a few seasons. My Favourite team is Chievo Verona " the Flying Donkeys" very lovable and a team that always defies the odds. They should be in Seria C but always manage to beat the biig teams.
Mick
Guest
It is a very competitive league despite the wage differences as big clubs don't rest players against small clubs like they do in other leagues & you see a few different teams every year in the UCL as well as the big boys missing out every few years.. I still think all 3 will need to get a good draw to get into the 1/4 finals The salary cap did stuff all for Manchester City in their clashes with Napoli but don't tell that to fox sports
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Most of Serie A is pretty weak, because of the brutally unfair nature of a league without a salary cap. http://footballanarchy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=24335 is a summary of who is being paid what.
SVB
Guest
Agree Anthony. There is something I love about Italian football. It is different to the other major leagues in Europe, in that it has maintained it's hardcore Ultra fanbases, and the football played is still very Italianesque in the cunning tactics and slow build up play being used. I know many people don't like this but I love it. The other leagues have a more generic look (especially the EPL), I would also love to see Napoli become a big club again. It is a huge city with a massive passion for football. I am not Italian, bit one thing I am always aware of is you write the Italians off at your own peril. When they look dead and buried is when they strike. Think 1982 and 2006 World cups. Also Inter beating an unbeatable Barcelona in the previous year and winning the Champions league. It seems they get inspiration from internal drama and chaos. I hope Mourinho goes back to coach in Italy. Is much more suited to Italian football in my opinion.