They may have sold the world's best midfielder for £46 million, but Juventus will start the season even stronger than they were last year.
Marcello Lippi has returned to the Delle Alpi and the man who last won the title for the 'Old Lady' in 1998 took the wise decision not to attempt to replace Zidane, opting instead to restructure a side that his predecessor, Carlo Ancelotti, built to do little more than defend tightly and serve Zidane. The addition of the aggressive and talented Czech Pavel Nedved from Lazio should give them a more dynamic appearance.
For the past two seasons, under Ancelotti, Juve had the tightest defence in Serie A and the arrival from Parma of Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and the classy French defender Lilian Thuram should maintain that record.
Nedved's exit from Lazio, coming after Juan Veron's move to Manchester United, led to fan protests against Sergio Cragnotti, president of the Rome club, but the signing of Gaizka Mendieta from Valencia has eased the fury. With Mendieta alongside Stefano Fiore, recruited from Udinese, Lazio's midfield again looks strong, as does the strike force of Hernan Crespo and Claudio Lopez.
Champions Roma have strengthened their back-up but Fabio Capello has left last season's title-winning side untouched - although Capello is looking for a quality addition to his defence. Inter's appointment of Argentine Hector Cuper, fresh from taking Valencia to consecutive Champions League finals, has transformed the mood at the club. In contrast to his predecessors, Cuper has gone for solid, if unspectacular, signings and hopes to have the additional option of a recovered Ronaldo at some stage in the campaign. Inter have become something of a laughing stock of late, but now many, including the Italian national coach Giovanni Trapattoni, see them as a decent outside bet for the title.
