I started a save with Fiorentina, one of my favourite teams from Italy. Playing 4231, currently in February in my first season, Serie A is characteristically tight with only 2 points between 1st place (Inter) and 4th - where I'm sitting. Topped the Conference League group and still in the Coppa Italia with a semi-final against Roma coming up (had a pretty easy draw against Lecce and Spezia). Lost in the Supercup final to Inter after narrowly beating Napoli.
It's a good squad all over so I'm hoping to make top 4, especially since I promised Nico Gonzalez Champions League football, desperate to keep hold of him. I brought in Valentin Gendrey for 4.6m since we start with a bit of an injury crisis at right-back for and he has potential but I can see him being pushed out when Dodo comes back from injury, plus Kayode is our best prospect and is already first team ready at only 19. I don't think Pierozzi is at the level I require so will probably move him on next season. Also brought in wonderkid Valentin Barco (3.9m release clause was hard to pass up), even though leftback is well covered by Biraghi who at 31 still has the pace and is bombing in crosses and Parisi, another strong prospect.
Milenkovic (thankfully) has a long-term contract and was willing to stay despite big offers from the likes of Man Utd and Newcastle. Easily our best CB, mostly partnered him with Ranieri. Yerry Mina is decent but this is an area I want to improve. Martinez Quarta keeps kicking up a fuss about a new deal but I'm not willing to give him such high wages, will move him on once I find a better alternative.
Alfred Duncan was in the last year of his contract so I cashed in. Brought in Simon Sohm as a decent back-up and has time to improve at 22. Central midfield has been made up of mostly Mandragora and Maxime Lopez (on loan). Amrabat comes back from loan next season, but he has massive contract demands, may well sell him if a good offer comes in. In attack, there's Barak and Castrovilli who are both capable, and 34 year old Bonaventura who has another season to provide some depth. Don't need to worry too much about the wings which are well-covered by Niko, Kouame, Sottli, Brekalo who are all in their 20s and good quality.
Our out-and-out are strikers are new signings M'Bala Nzola and Lucas Beltran. Nzola has been immense, 12 goals from 12 games (2 from pens), just really good physical and technicals, only lacks aerial ability. Beltran has been a bit disappointing so far given his price tag, but is only 22 so I expect him to improve.
32 players in the first team squad, a number of players out on loan with contracts coming up. Will have a bit of a clear out next season, don't need to radically alter the squad but a new GK is also needed since Terraccino is 33 and his deputy, Oliver Christensen, doesn't look good enough.
I'd like to keep an Italian core for the team, I think maybe at least 5 Italian players in the first 11 is a good target, and there is plenty of young, quality Italian players about.