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Serie A has been home to some impeccable forwards over the years. From the likes of Diego Maradona and Alessandro del Piero, to Francesco Totti and Ronaldo Nazario — the league has never been short on attacking flair. The current crop of forwards have a lot to live up to, of course, but they certainly have the potential to make their mark in one of the most competitive leagues in Europe.
Special note: With reliable reports strongly linking Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea, we have kept the forward off our list.
Now, without further ado, let us take a quick look at
5 forwards to keep an eye on in the 2021-22 Serie A season
#5 Ciro Immobile - Lazio
Italy international Ciro Immobile had a quiet Euro 2020 tournament, even though his country managed to bring home the most prestigious trophy in Europe - UEFA Euro 2020. He did net a couple of goals, though, but his club, Lazio, will need him to be a tad sharper in front of goal in the season to come.
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Historically, Immobile has always managed to hit double figures for Lazio, and we believe the trend will continue in the 21-22 Serie A campaign. His best-ever season in Serie A came in 2019-20, when he netted 36 goals and provided nine assists in 37 league matches. His exploits deservedly won him the Golden Boot that year.
In the 2020-21 Serie A season, the 31-year-old featured in 35 games for the Rome-based club, registering 20 goals and 7 assists.
#4 Dusan Vlahovic - Fiorentina
Dusan Vlahovic may very well be the only unrecognizable name on this list of high-profile Serie A forwards, but he has certainly done enough to be included. The 21-year-old Fiorentina forward is a beacon of hope for his club and they will need him to reproduce his last-season heroics.
Vlahovic signed for Fiorentina from Serbian club Partizan in the summer of 2018 and has not looked back since. His debut season saw him restricted to sporadic appearances, which led to him ending the season without a single goal. In the following season, he bounced back with six goals in 30 Serie A appearances, but it was in the 2020-21 season when he managed to produce his best in front of goal.
The Serbian sharpshooter managed to rack up 21 goals and 2 assists in Serie A last season, making him the fourth-highest goal-getter in the league. The forward will once again be the team’s focal point of attack as they try to pull themselves up to a UEFA Europa League finish.
#3 Luis Muriel - Atalanta
Serie A has a bunch of high-profile forwards in its ranks, and Atalanta forward Luis Muriel is certainly one of the best the league has on offer.
After struggling to settle in at Udinese, Sampdoria, Fiorentina and Sevilla, Muriel landed in Atalanta in 2019 and has been an invaluable contributor since. Muriel’s excellent movement and knack for finding space has come in handy for Atalanta, as the Lombardy outfit prefer to hit on the break more often than not.
In his debut season in Serie A, Muriel made 34 appearances, with 24 of those coming off the bench. The super sub pitched in with 18 goals in the 2019-20 campaign, which established him as an integral part of the team. Last season, too, he was more prolific as a substitute, with 13 of his 21 goals coming off the bench. Expect him to carry on his scintillating run of goals, specifically as a substitute.
#2 Alvaro Morata - Juventus
Juventus forward Alvaro Morata does not have a reputation for being the sharpest tool in the toolbox, but his impressive resume begs you to keep an eye on his exploits.
Morata was part of Atletico Madrid’s youth system before he found his way into Real Madrid's Cantera via Getafe CF Youth. He progressed through the ranks and featured in the senior team in 2013-14, eventually winning the UEFA Champions League medal. Since then he has jumped from one club to another - Juventus, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, and back again to Juventus.
He is currently on loan at Juventus from Atletico Madrid, which is set to expire in 2022. However, looking at how stacked Atletico are at the moment, they might not take the player back. Morata, who scored 11 goals in the Serie A last season, has a point to prove to his nation and his club. And we expect him to give team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo a run for his money this season.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo - Juventus
Cristiano Ronaldo is accustomed to sitting at the summit, and this little list of ours is no exception. The 36-year-old does not seem to have any intention of slowing down, and we expect him to put on a strong showing in the 21-22 Serie A campaign.
After transferring from Real Madrid in the summer of 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo missed out on the Serie A golden boot on a couple of occasions - first to Fabio Quagliarella and then to Ciro Immobile. Last season, Cristiano Ronaldo returned to the top, hitting the back of the net a total of 29 times in 33 Serie A matches.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s impressive goal tally was not enough for Juventus to retain their Serie A crown. This season, the Bianconeri will look to chase down defending champions Inter Milan and will, once again, need Cristiano Ronaldo to lead the charge.
