Atalanta fliesboth in the championship and in the Champions League, and the last six goals scored against Young Boys have shown, if there was still any need, the power of the Goddess to all of Europe. A supremacy that represents the result of a project that started from afar, with the leader Gian Piero Gasperini always at the forefront and architect, although clearly not alone, of the transformation of a club that had as its fixed objective that of remaining in Serie A and which now dreams of the scudetto. A clear idea, right from the start, since 2016, when the coach arrived on the Nerazzurri bench, and always right choices on the transfer market, both incoming and outgoing. And it is precisely the farewells, spread over the years and in the various transfer windows, that have often been the subject of discussions, due to the performance of the players who left Bergamo to move elsewhere. Those who have purchased from the Goddess, with rare exceptions, have never been completely satisfied and the question that arises spontaneously is: why can’t those who leave Atalanta repeat themselves and make a difference? It is impossible to give a certain answer, but the feeling is that there are various factors that have had an impact, case by case.
Gasperini’s magic wand
In the first point there is always the name of Gian Piero Gasperini. The coach had the merit of turning everything he touched into gold and once he left Zingonia no one was clearly able to continue working with a coach who, numbers in hand, was able to develop all the players he was given made available. Let’s be clear, we are not blaming the various technicians who took delivery of the players purchased by their respective clubs, but the magic wand that figuratively belongs to Gasp is a rare object and should be used with care. To try to explain the concept let’s try to talk about two opposite cases: Charles De Keteleareafter a very complicated season at Milan he was reborn under the orders of Gasperini, as well as Josip Ilicicdownloaded from Fiorentina and author of something unrepeatable and extraordinary for the Nerazzurri.
Different pressure
Analyzing the case relating to the Belgian we also realize that the different pressure had a fundamental role. In Milan the expectations were very high, the Rossoneri shirt weighs more than that of Atalanta and the time available to demonstrate is less. Gasperini and Atalanta pampered and waited for him and in the end the result was that of having signed a player, yet another, capable of making the difference. But let’s go back to goodbyes and those who didn’t manage to break through. There are many names, starting from Roberto Gagliardinisold probably at the right time after “only” six months great, up to Mattia Caldara and Andrea Contihowever both were also stopped by serious injuries. And then? The most important name, given the almost 80 million spent by Manchester United to bring him to the Premier League, is that of Rasmus Hojlund, far from being a striker capable of determining and deserving, through no fault of his own, such an evaluation.
Five half cases
However, the path of the players who exploded in Bergamo and then sold by the Dea was not always a completely negative one. The proof of this statement is given by five names. The first is that of Franck Kessiewho won the scudetto at Milan before joining Barcelona and then leaving Europe. The second is Cristian Romerohowever positive for Tottenham, until Bryan Cristante and Gianluca Manciniwho for better or worse have found their dimension at Roma. The last one is instead Robin Gosensnot exactly at the top at Inter and Union Berlin but once again decisive at Fiorentina this year. Five players who performed less than we could have expected and than what they had demonstrated with Gasperini, but who were certainly not flops.
The exception
As often happens in every field there is always the exception that confirms the rule and specifically the case is that of Alessandro Bastoni. The 31 million spent by Inter in the summer of 2017, before welcoming him two years later to Milan after loans to Atalanta and Parma, were an investment that paid off. The defender born in 1999 is now a pillar of the Italian champions thanks to continuous growth which has led him to win seven trophies with the Nerazzurri, including two league titles, and to be part, with just one appearance, of the Italian national team capable of winning the European Championship in 2021.
The last one and the next one
In the end Teun Koopmeiners and Ademola Lookman. The midfielder, who joined Juventus last summer, has not yet blossomed in Turin, but it is still too early to make a definitive judgement. There is plenty of time to confirm, or improve, what he has shown in the Atalanta shirt and the Bianconeri’s hope is that the difficulties the Dutchman has had so far have depended solely on physical problems. The Nigerian striker will instead be the next important farewell at Atalanta. The hat-trick in the Europa League final was the calling card for the big teams, who already tried to snatch it from Gasperini in the summer, while this season, with the Champions League, it will be the definitive showcase. The offers will arrive and they will be important, but the future away from Bergamo will still be a question mark, given the precedents. Whoever takes it will have to think about it, the investment will be heavy and evaluations will have to be made at 360°. Will Lookman be the second exception? We’ll see, but the certain thing is that whatever happens, Gasperini’s magic wand won’t move and will be ready to work new magic for Atalanta and its fans.