Serie A’s Early Surprise Performers: From the Juventus rocket to the Argentine making waves by the lake

The Serie A season is nearly a third of the way through, and already we’ve seen some surprise teams, and by extension several surprise performers, that have surpassed expectations at this stage of the campaign.

Destination Calcio takes a look at five players who have really stood out in the early months of the season.

Francisco Conceicao – Juventus

Son of former Lazio, Inter and Parma winger Sergio, Francisco Conceicao arrived in Turin on a loan deal from FC Porto and barring exceptional circumstances, he won’t be going back.

Conceicao has been one of Juventus’ star players in the early days of the Thiago Motta era. Conceicao has benefitted from Nico Gonazalez’s injury and made the right-wing position his own, despite Motta’s tendency to rotate between Serie A and European matches.

His winner against RB Leipzig during the 3-2 Champions League thriller, in which he wormed his way through two Leipzig defenders and slotted the ball into the bottom corner, highlighted just how precocious a talent Juve have in their hands. Meanwhile he tormented Inter in the recent Derby d’Italia with his trickery and ability to operate in tight spaces.

Such has been Conceicao’s impact with The Old Lady that Juve are already in talks with Porto over keeping the 21-year-old on a permanent basis. 

Scott McTominay – Napoli

Now, it’s difficult to argue that a £25m signing should be deemed a ‘surprise’, but Scott McTominay’s prominent role in a resurgent Napoli side that sit atop the Serie A mountain has been a bit of a surprise.

McTominay has slotted right into Antonio Conte’s side, with the Scot being utilised in a more attacking midfield role than what he was used to at Manchester United. Three goals in 10 games in all competitions is quite a decent return, and McTominay has won over the Neapolitan public already with his relentless running and ability to chip in with goals.

McTominay’s form for Napoli has been so good that former Celtic and West Ham player Paolo Di Canio stated that all ‘directors at Old Trafford should be arrested’ for sanctioning his departure.

Conte has admitted to changing his tactics to fit McTominay into his side, and he’s reaping the benefits of it so far. 

Mateo Retegui – Atalanta

Mateo Retegui had big shoes to fill when he signed for Atalanta last summer. The Argentine-Italian was signed as a replacement for Gianluca Scamacca, when the Italian striker suffered a torn ACL injury which meant a seven-month layoff. 

Retegui became Atalanta’s third-most expensive signing of all-time, and the pressure was on to hit the ground running. And he’s done just that.

Retegui can’t stop scoring, in fact. He currently sits top of the Capocannoniere list with 11 goals in 12 games. Retegui has added something extra to La Dea’s attack that was lacking with Scamacca in the team. While the latter likes to drop deep and link up play, the former is all about goals and moving inside the box. 

Few expected Retegui to gel into Gian Piero Gasperini’s side with such ease, considering better players over the years have struggled to adapt to his style. If he stays fit, it would be foolish to bet against Retegui becoming the first Atalanta player to win the Capocannoniere crown since a young Pippo Inzaghi in 1997. 

Nico Paz – Como

Como have blown hot and cold this season, but one of their most consistent players has been Spaniard Nico Paz. Signed from Real Madrid last summer for €6m, Paz was a player wanted by manager Cesc Fabregas and it’s easy to see why. 

Paz has been operating just behind a central striker, but given creative license to roam in the final third of the pitch. One goal and four assists for the promoted side has seen Paz called up to the Argentine national side, and he made his debut in October against Bolivia. 

Fabregas has been surprised by Paz’s development since signing for Como, saying: “My plan was to make him grow in two or three months, but he’s jumped ahead and you can see the difference he makes.”

Only 20-years-old, the future is very bright indeed for the youngster.

Nuno Taveres – Lazio

The left-back was signed by the Biancocelesti on a season-long loan and, if we are being honest, not many people paid attention to the deal. That’s no longer the case.

Taveres has seemingly come out of nowhere to be Serie A’s most-dominant left-back. Marco Baroni’s side have been expectational in the opening months of the campaign, and the former Nottingham Forest man has been a major part of that.

Taveres has already provided a ludicrous eight assists from nine games in Serie A, a simple outrageous stat for a full-back. Lazio will be obligated to buy Taveres for €8m should certain targets be met, and it appears they will, with president Claudio Lotito eager to keep the Portuguese player.

“I won’t sell him – even for €70m,” Lotito said recently. “We have fought off a lot of competition from big clubs for the full-back.” 

Taveres is also happy at Lazio, telling Portuguese outlet Jogo: “I feel more and more at home at Lazio. Fortunately, things are going well for me personally and collectively.” Lazio now sit in the top five in Serie A, and both Baroni and Lotito will hope Taveres keeps wracking up the assists from the left flank.