Many had harboured suspicions about Lazio winger Felipe Anderson's natural ability. He confounded their beliefs. Many believed Jose Callejon's impressive debut campaign in Naples was a flash in the pan. He, instead, defied their expectations. Talent in the Serie A, like its English, French and Spanish counterparts, have become accustomed to knee-jerk assessments. And, with the start of 2015/16 campaign on the horizon, it presents the perfect opportunity for supporters to lay out their expectations for the forthcoming season.
With domestic form central to a player's odds of starring at the European Championships - or similar continental tournaments - in France next summer, the Serie A ought to be brimming with breakout stars this season. Below are five stars who require a big season for their respective sides:
Seydou Doumbia (Roma)
Purchased in January for a reported fee of £10.8 million, it's difficult to look past the floundering form of the Ivorian.
Granted, ten appearances is a small sample size, especially given he was propelled into a side struggling for consistency, but two goals is still a meagre outlay given the quality of chances he often squandered - the miss against Feyenoord at the Stadio Olympico stands out, in particular.
The problem for Doumbia, and, for that matter, Roma, is that they rely heavily on a penalty box presence to supply the goals. Francesco Totti showed over the course of the season that he cannot shoulder the goalscoring burden and that Roma function more efficiently with a bonafide No. 9 in his place. As an ancillary note, only Adem Ljajic, out of the array of wide men Rudi Garcia has at his disposal, surpassed the five goal mark last term.
Doumbia, though a proven goal getter in Russia, still has much to prove. Should Garcia wish to rectify the Giallorossi's dismal campaign last time out, Totti's minutes ought to be whittled down and the Ivorian must seize his opportunity to flourish.
Roma will continue with their pursuit of Manchester City forward Edin Dzeko, the ideal No. 9 to fit Garcia's blueprint - but Doumbia, whether he features more regularly or not, must begin to repay his £10million transfer fee.
Davide Zappacosta (Torino)
The Italian U21 international has the unenviable task of filling the shoes of the departed Matteo Darmian this forthcoming season.
Darmian, who made over 145 appearances for Granata, netted the decisive goal in Torino's 3-2 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the UEFA Europa League last term, helping his side to becoming the first ever Italian side to taste victory in the San Mames, before smashing home the opener against arch-rivals Juventus as Torino recorded their first Turin Derby victory in 20 years.
The 25-year-old, operating on the left-hand side of Giampero Ventura's famed 3-5-2 system, provided the perfect blend of attacking efficacy and defensive dependability and was rarely caught neglecting his defensive duties.
Ventura often relied upon his two wing-backs to provide the penetration and Zappacosta can ill-afford a season of transition if Torino are to preserve their habit of confounding assumptions.
Jerry Mbakogu (Carpi)
Carpi, and more specifically Mbakogu, arrive into the top-flight a relatively unknown quantity. Their wage bill reads a paltry €3million - joint lowest in the division with fellow newsboys Frosinone - and, like Empoli last term, it would take a miraculous campaign from Fabrizio Castori and his players to avoid a swift return to Serie B.
Fortunately, the club tied Mbakogu down to a five-year deal last summer and he repaid the Carpi faithful by netting 14 times as the club clinched the Serie B title.
Cesena, who spent a year rubbing shoulders with the big boys before relegation hit, found life difficulty without a regular goalscorer while Empoli owed much to the double-figure goal return from Massimo Macarrone.
The Biancorossi -- as they are affectionally known -- leaked the least number of goals in Serie B last season (28) and should they be able to summon a modicum of their defensive parsimony in the top flight, they may require the prolific touch of Mbakogu in attack.
Keita Balde (Lazio)
Many will point to Felipe Anderson's emergence as rationale for Balde's frustrating 12 months in the capital. The 20-year-old featured 17 times from the substitutes' bench as the former continue to burgeon under Stefano Pioli's stewardship and was often found wanting as a result.
Lazio secured European football last term - whether they will feature in Europe's top or second tier competition remains to be seen - and with that comes additional pressure and workload.
Anderson will likely be given the nod during the high-stakes affairs but there is significant opportunity for Balde to work himself into Pioli's plans. The Biancocelesti may be forced to play over 50 games this season and the Brazilian, whose fitness levels developed exceedingly in the last year, will require down time.
He remains only 20 years of age and, as attested by his often erratic end-product, is far from the finished article. But he must begin to show signs of improvement.
Luis Muriel (Sampdoria)
Attempting to replace the goalscoring expenditure of Manolo Gabbiadini is a considerable feat on its own. But, with Samuel Eto'o ditching the Genoese side to continue his expedition around the continent, the mercurial Colombian now must assume the increased goalscoring responsibility as Samp attempt to replicate their exemplary seventh place finish last time out.
New manager Walter Zenga will, of course, seek replacements, but irrespective of Eto'o's exit, this is year where Muriel must blossom into the talent that the entire Italian populace has been anticipating.
It's difficult to deny his raw talent after sumptuous efforts like his strike against Napoli in April, but the forward is yet to produce a consistent goalscoring campaign since his breakout season under Francesco Guidolin in 2012/13.
Muriel, should he begin to mature into the all-encompassing forward that we expect, should welcome the pressure. It's whether Massimo Ferrero and co. do as well.