Five rounds into the Serie A season, a group of players once viewed as uncertain fantasy selections have become central figures in their clubs’ early plans. Coaching changes, renewed trust and, in some cases, a different role have altered their standing quickly: Juventus have revived three such cases, Lazio another three, while Milan, Cagliari and Fiorentina have each found important answers within their squads.
Spalletti’s Juventus trio find a place
Douglas Luiz, Edon Zhegrova and Nico Gonzalez spent much of the summer surrounded by uncertainty, with the latter two repeatedly linked with exits. Under Luciano Spalletti, however, all three have begun to establish themselves in Juventus’ opening five league fixtures.
- Douglas Luiz has received a fantasy rating in each of Juventus’ five matches, posting an average of 6.0.
- Edon Zhegrova has featured in three matches and produced two goals and one assist, for an average rating of 6.5. His first Italian season had brought no attacking returns and only 19 rated appearances.
- Nico Gonzalez, previously at Atletico Madrid, has played in four of five league games. He has scored once and holds an average rating of 7.25.
The early returns suggest Spalletti has turned a group of players whose futures appeared unsettled into useful options across a long campaign.
Lazio’s revived contributors
Lazio’s opening phase has also been shaped by players seeking a fresh start. Davide Frattesi, Nuno Tavares and Tijjani Noslin have all answered the confidence shown in them, with production that contrasts sharply with their previous league seasons.
- Frattesi, formerly of Inter, has made the starting place his own and scored three times in the first three rounds. After finishing last season without a bonus contribution, he now carries an 8.6 fantasy average.
- Nuno Tavares has returned to regular duty at left-back after a difficult campaign without a goal or assist. The Portuguese wide player already has two assists and an average of 7.2.
- Noslin has often been chosen by Gennaro Gattuso ahead of Andrea Pinamonti through the middle. He has repaid that selection with two goals and an average close to 8.0, after scoring four times in 29 rated appearances last term.
For Lazio, those improvements have given Gattuso options that had previously seemed less reliable, particularly in the central attacking role and on the left flank.
Milan’s returnees offer Amorim a platform
At Milan, new coach Ruben Amorim has immediately made use of two players returning from loan spells. Yunus Musah and Samuel Chukwueze have both been rated in all five Serie A matches so far, giving the coach continuity during the first weeks of his tenure.
Chukwueze has added two assists to that run of appearances. Alongside Musah, he has moved from a peripheral status after last season to a regular place in Amorim’s early selections.
Maldini and Jimenez make their mark elsewhere
Elsewhere in the division, Daniel Maldini has become a leading figure for Cagliari as the Sardinian club remain close to the top of the table. The former Milan player has scored in each of his last three games, already surpassing the rhythm of a previous season in which he managed only two goals across spells with Atalanta and Lazio.
Alex Jimenez has enjoyed a similarly encouraging restart at Fiorentina. After an uneven year at Milan and a season-long move to Bournemouth, he has regained a starting role and begun to deliver the first Serie A fantasy returns of his career.
- Jimenez has been rated in four of Fiorentina’s first five league fixtures.
- He has recorded one goal and one assist.
- Those contributions are his first bonus returns from any of his Serie A appearances.
It is still early in the season, but these ten stories underline how swiftly a coach’s decisions can reshape a squad. Players who entered the summer as questions are now providing goals, assists, minutes and renewed value for clubs building their place in the Serie A table.
