Serie A 2026/27: Can Inter Milan Retain the Title?

Inter Milan completed a domestic double in 2025/26 — the Scudetto and the Coppa Italia — under first-year manager Cristian Chivu. It was a remarkable debut campaign for the former Inter defender, who became only the latest in a long line of club legends to return to the San Siro dugout. But can Inter retain the Serie A title in 2026/27, or will a summer of upheaval and emboldened rivals bring their reign to an end?

How Inter Won the 2025/26 Scudetto

Inter's 21st league title was built on defensive solidity and big-game mentality. After a wobble in February — including a painful 1–0 Derby della Madonnina defeat to AC Milan — Chivu's side responded with a ruthless run of form that saw them clinch the title with three matches to spare, beating Parma 2–0 at the San Siro on 3 May 2026.

Federico Dimarco was named Serie A MVP for the season, underlining how integral the left-sided defender had become to Inter's attacking output. The double was secured when Inter lifted the Coppa Italia too, capping a season that vindicated the club's bold decision to hire Chivu ahead of more experienced candidates.

Notably, AC Milan and Juventus both endured disappointing campaigns, finishing fifth and sixth respectively and missing out on Champions League football entirely.

Inter's Summer of Change

Despite the silverware, Chivu and the Inter hierarchy recognise that standing still means falling behind. The 2026 summer transfer window is shaping up to be one of the most transformative in recent Nerazzurri history.

Goalkeeper: Yann Sommer looks set to depart, with Guglielmo Vicario of Tottenham Hotspur the leading candidate to replace him. At 29, Vicario would represent a long-term upgrade and a statement of intent.

Defence and midfield: Denzel Dumfries has a release clause in his contract and could move on, while Davide Frattesi is reportedly seeking a new challenge. The club are pursuing Manu Koné from Roma as a midfield reinforcement — a deal that would add dynamism and energy to the engine room.

Attack: Perhaps the biggest talking point is Marcus Thuram. The Frenchman earns around €6.5 million per season and, with his contract running until 2028, Inter may look to cash in now while his value remains high. Giovane from Hellas Verona is being targeted to add versatility in the final third.

Chivu is also reportedly considering a tactical shift away from the familiar 3-5-2 towards a 4-3-2-1 or 4-3-3, which would reshape squad requirements significantly.

The Rivals: Who Can Dethrone Inter?

Napoli Under Allegri

Napoli finished second in 2025/26 and have made the boldest managerial appointment of the summer by hiring Massimiliano Allegri. The serial winner — six Serie A titles with Juventus — brings a proven track record and a pragmatic tactical approach.

The Partenopei have already moved decisively in the transfer market. Rasmus Højlund has completed a permanent move from Manchester United for approximately £43.2 million after an impressive loan spell (16 goals, 8 assists in 44 appearances), while Alisson de Almeida Santos has been signed permanently from Sporting. With Allegri's defensive organisation layered onto an already talented squad, Napoli look like Inter's most dangerous challengers.

AC Milan's Rebuild

AC Milan have appointed Rúben Amorim as head coach and backed him with a club-record signing: Gonçalo Ramos from PSG for over €70 million. The Portuguese striker is expected to lead the line in a new-look Milan side.

However, the departure of Rafael Leão — who has announced he wants to leave for a new challenge — is a significant blow. Milan are also negotiating for Mario Gila from Lazio to shore up their defence. Under Amorim, Milan will look to return to the Champions League after a chastening absence, but a title challenge in year one may be ambitious.

Juventus in Transition

Juventus remain Italy's most decorated club with 36 Serie A titles, but recent campaigns have fallen below expectations. The appointment of Frederic Massara as Chief Football Officer signals a strategic reset, while the signing of Jeff Ekhator from Genoa and interest in Oumar Solet suggest a focus on young, hungry talent. The Douglas Luiz situation — absent without justification from pre-season — adds unwanted distraction.

Jonathan David staying put is a positive, but Juve's Europa League status means they're not where they expect to be. The Old Lady will be dangerous but are probably a year away from a genuine title push.

Serie A's Broader Landscape

The 2026/27 season marks the 125th campaign of top-tier Italian football and the 95th in a round-robin format. Seven Italian clubs will compete in European competition: Inter, Napoli, Roma, and Como in the Champions League; Milan and Juventus in the Europa League; and Atalanta in the Conference League.

The promoted clubs — Venezia, Frosinone, and Monza — add their own narratives. Venezia bounced straight back by winning the Serie B title under Giovanni Stroppa, while Frosinone secured their fourth promotion to the top flight.

The Verdict: Can Inter Do It Again?

History suggests defending the Scudetto is no easy feat. The last club to win three consecutive titles was Juventus, who managed a staggering nine in a row between 2011 and 2020. Inter themselves won back-to-back titles in 2023/24 and now 2025/26, but their 2024/25 campaign saw Napoli pip them by a single point — proof that the margins at the top are razor-thin.

Chivu's ability to navigate a significant squad overhaul while maintaining Inter's winning mentality will be the defining factor. If the Vicario and Koné deals come off and the tactical evolution works, Inter have the squad depth and the institutional knowledge to retain the title. But with Allegri plotting at Napoli and Amorim rebuilding Milan, this could be the most competitive Serie A title race in years.

Our prediction: Inter will be in the mix until the final weeks, but Napoli's combination of Allegri's experience and Højlund's goals makes them slight favourites to dethrone the champions. Expect a three-horse race with Milan pushing hard for a late-season surge.

Sources

This post was researched using the following sources:

• 2026–27 Serie A — Wikipedia
• 2025–26 Inter Milan season — Wikipedia
• Serie A 2025-26 final standings and verdicts — Football Italia
• 2026-27 Serie A: Inter fixture list confirmed — Football Italia
• Summer Transfer window LIVE: Serie A done deals tracker — Football Italia
• Transfer market: Napoli has already won the Scudetto this summer — FIRSTonline
• Cristian Chivu's hiring and new Inter deal — CBS Sports
• Chivu extension and summer transfer revolution — OneFootball
• Serie A all-time winners — Statista
• Who has won Serie A? All-time champions list — ESPN

Cover image: The San Siro stadium during an Inter Milan match in 2019, Vincenzo.togni via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.