SERIE A football isn’t exactly known for its free-flowing, attacking football.
And defence will certainly be the name of the game as three teams prepare to battle it out for the title next season.
Juventus boss Maurizio Sarri, Napoli chief Carlo Ancelotti and Inter Milan gaffer Antonio Conte will all be hoping to guide their teams to the top of the table.
And new-look partnerships in central defence are sure to be fundamental in the hunt for silverware.
Here, SunSport looks at the giants set to marshal their team’s backline next term.
SARRIBALL at the Allianz Stadium is a mouth-watering prospect, especially with Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala up front.
But it’s at the back where Maurizio Sarri’s Europa League-winning tactic starts.
The former Chelsea man loves defenders who can play out with the ball at their feet, enabling his side to either patiently build up across the pitch or launch a lightning-quick counter-attack.
In Matthijs de Ligt, Juventus are signing one of European football’s most adventurous centre-backs who has bundles of energy and a fair amount of technique to boot.
The Ajax teenager, 19, is also a huge threat in the air and has incredible leadership skills for a player his age, with his £70million price-tag sure to seal his place in the starting XI.
The only real question mark for Sarri is who partners De Ligt at the back.
Leonardo Bonucci, 32, wasn’t up to scratch last season, while Giorgio Chiellini is only heading in one direction at 34.
And it is highly likely that Daniele Rugani, 24, will finally get his chance to become a first-team regular after joining Juventus in 2012.
The Italy international is an old favourite of Sarri’s, with the pair working together for two years at Empoli.
Sarri was desperate to sign Rugani for Chelsea last summer, with the player’s agent confirming a number of rejected offers from West London before he signed a new deal in March.
And he is the ideal candidate to link up with De Ligt for the new campaign, with Rugani also displaying similar characteristics.
RAUL ALBIOL’S return to Spain has seen Napoli do the unthinkable – spend big money on an even better replacement.
Usually preferring younger and cheaper signings, owner Aurelio De Laurentiis sanctioned an incredible £32m swoop on rivals Roma for their star defender Kostas Manolas on Monday.
The Greek international, 28, had been coveted by some of Europe’s biggest and richest clubs.
But Napoli pulled off an incredible coup to secure Manolas’ signature and create one of the most powerful partnerships around.
He will now line up next to Kalidou Koulibaly, regarded by some as the best centre-half in world football.
Boasting strength, pace and excellent positioning, 28-year-old Koulibaly has long been the scourge of Serie A strikers.
And it could be argued that Manolas is his exact replica, but with a preference to clear the ball rather than seek out a pass.
Carlo Ancelotti established a 4-4-2 system at the San Paolo after taking charge last year, instructing players go long or hold on to the ball as and when they see fit.
Manolas and Koulibaly’s combined abilities are sure to bring even more dynamism to Napoli’s style, and their respective bulks will also make them a real handful during attacking set-pieces.
AC Milan: Dejan Lovren, Alessio Romagnoli
Roma: Marc Bartra, Toby Alderweireld
Lazio: Luiz Felipe, Francesco Acerbi
Atalanta: Rafael Toloi, Jose Luis Palomino
Torino: Armando Izzo, Nicolas Nkoulou
THREE is the magic number for Antonio Conte.
Three Serie A titles won as Juventus manager, achieved by playing three at the back.
But the Premier League winner is also open to playing with a traditional four.
And although Inter boast a great technical player in Stefan de Vrij, Milan Skriniar and Diego Godin will form the bedrock of Conte’s backline at the San Siro.
The pair are the new heartbeat of the club, with both regarded as passionate leaders who have perfected the art of tackling.
Skriniar, 24, made huge waves during his first season at Inter, outshining defensive partner Miranda to become linked with a host of free-spending European outfits.
But Skriniar stayed loyal and eventually inspired Inter to Champions League qualification.
Meanwhile, Uruguayan legend Godin, 33, penned a three-year deal on Monday after leaving Atletico Madrid.
He treats each game like a life-or-death battle, and will be able to pass on a huge amount of knowledge and experience to Skriniar.
Conte likes to vary between fast-pressing attacks and extreme defensive containment, but his centre-backs have enough class and skill to deal with any situation on the pitch.
