Di Canio, the former Napoli forward turned television pundit, gave his assessment of the Serie A title race in an interview with Corriere della Sera, placing Inter clear favourites ahead of the new season.
"Starting grid? Inter out in front, then Juve and Napoli, then Milan and Roma. Inter have greater self-belief and their strength is the club itself. The other big sides have all changed manager," he said.
On Allegri specifically, who replaced Conte at the Stadio Maradona this summer after the club won last season's Scudetto under the previous coach, Di Canio was complimentary of his man-management.
"He's taking over a team worn down by Conte's methods. He knows how to manage a squad and he's open to dialogue. Something is still missing for them to compete on both fronts," he said.
He also touched on Como, who face a taxing pre-season schedule that includes Champions League qualification alongside their domestic commitments.
"Fàbregas plays an exhausting style of football and the Champions League drains energy. It'll be a good test, for everyone," Di Canio said, before turning to Juventus and new coach Luciano Spalletti. "He's found his bearings, and now he's a leading figure in the transfer market too. They start as the anti-Inter, like Napoli."
Di Canio was more critical when discussing Rafael Leão, questioning the AC Milan forward's inconsistency across different coaching regimes.
"We keep asking ourselves why he plays four good matches and then stops. He's gone from one manager to another and always has the same attitude. Amorim says he needs to enjoy himself, but let's stop with that: who enjoys themselves on the pitch? You sweat, you work, you run and above all you sacrifice. Football is a job, not two or three hours a day of training," he said.
He reserved some sympathy for Milan boss Rúben Amorim, calling him one of the better emerging coaches while questioning his handling of certain situations at Manchester United.
"He's certainly among the best emerging coaches, but he'll have plenty on his plate. At United he struck me because he wanted to play the hard man straight away, dropping Rashford and then Mainoo, and I didn't think that was right. Now he says Leão needs to enjoy himself... I don't understand. Are music and fashion shows part of the plan too?"
Napoli, meanwhile, have moved to strengthen their defensive options, finalising the signing of right-back Costantino Favasuli from Catanzaro. The 2004-born full-back arrives after a hard-fought negotiation with the Calabrian club, in a deal reported at around €7 million in total, structured as a loan with an obligation to buy, according to Sky.
Favasuli is expected to serve as understudy to club captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo, giving Antonio Conte's successor an option at right-back for a squad also competing in the Champions League this season.
Medical tests are expected to take place around 18 August. On the contractual side, Napoli have opted for a structure similar to the one already used for Antonio Vergara, with both players sharing the same agent: an initial five-year deal that can be extended year on year through renewable options to run as long as eight seasons in total. The format allows the club to protect its investment in a young, promising player while locking down his registration over the long term.