The 2025/26 Serie A season is producing very different stories: some of the most expensive signings of the summer are disappointing, while other players, who arrived amid skepticism or near-indifference, are proving to be genuine surprises. This dynamic, as often happens, impacts both the real-world performance of teams and the world of fantasy football, where expectations often don’t match the bonuses players bring.

This analysis compares two opposing groups: three highly hyped names whose performances are below expectations, and some genuine revelations from this early season.

Heavy Expectations, Low Impact

Loïs Openda arrived at Juventus as one of the big attacking signings: pace, power, and impressive numbers in previous seasons in the Bundesliga. The Bianconeri have invested heavily in him, but his performance so far has been disappointing.

The Belgian is struggling to find the net, and even more so to find a clear place in Juventus’s attacking system. His playing time isn’t always consistent, partly due to rotation and the presence of alternatives in the squad, such as Jonathan David. The most obvious aspect is his quality-price ratio: so far, Openda has been a poor value for money, both for Juventus and for fantasy football managers who had bet on him as a double-digit striker.

The general feeling is that his season could still change, but his start remains severely subdued.

Great talent, zero impact

Christopher Nkunku was one of the most expensive signings in Serie A. AC Milan decided to focus heavily on him to bring quality and unpredictability to their attack. However, the results aren’t coming.

Nkunku hasn’t yet managed to find a stable place in the Rossoneri system. He alternates between moments where he seems to be able to break the game and others where he disappears completely. Even in terms of goalscoring and creativity, his numbers are lower than in his best seasons in the Bundesliga and Premier League.

Fantasy football, then, amplifies the problem: a player who’s expensive at auction, but in reality, very inconsistent in terms of bonuses and consistency. So far, he’s one of the biggest disappointments of the summer transfer window.

The international signing who struggles

Leon Bailey was hailed in Rome as a world-class winger capable of bringing pace, dribbling, and unpredictability. But the reality is that his contribution so far has been very limited.

His performances are inconsistent, and his ability to make an impact in big matches is almost nonexistent. In some games, he fails to find rhythm, in others, he lacks consistency in the final third. For those who have placed their bets on him in fantasy football, Bailey is a gamble that is yielding very little. Roma needs more consistency, but so far, the Jamaican isn’t living up to expectations.

The Brazilian Surprise

Arrived in silence, Giovane is surprising everyone. Verona, which finds itself reinventing its squad every year, has landed a dynamic, quick, and courageous talent from Brazil, who in just a few weeks has established himself as one of the league’s new discoveries.

Giovane not only runs and creates plays, but also scores and actively participates in dangerous situations. He has become an essential starter, and in recent days, he has attracted the attention of both experts and fantasy football managers. In a technically challenging environment like Verona’s, his ability to shine is a measure of his value. One of the brightest surprises of this start to the season.

The veteran rewriting Serie A

At 38, many thought Vardy would arrive in Serie A just for one last showdown. Instead, he’s rewriting the narrative.

Cremonese, considered by many to be a candidate for relegation, is instead one of the league’s revelations. Much of the credit goes to him: Vardy runs, presses, scores, and interacts with the team as if he’d been playing in Italy for ten years. His performances are astonishing: frequent bonuses, leadership, and a real impact. A player who, in fantasy football, represents the perfect combination of low cost and high performance. It’s the story no one expected, but everyone is appreciating.

A defensive move that becomes a key player

When Napoli acquired him, the idea was simple: to find cover after Lukaku’s injury and Raspadori’s departure. In reality, Rasmus Højlund has taken Napoli by storm.

He scores, plays well, attacks deep, and decides key matches, like the one against Juventus. He has quickly become Napoli’s top scorer this season and one of the most reliable players in fantasy football. His performance is consistent and mature, and above all, it confirms that Napoli has found a true center forward. The team benefits, and so do fantasy football managers.

The message is clear: in football, and especially in fantasy football, performance and consistency matter much more than name or price.