Four years of ups and downs. Of goals and criticism. From Atalanta and also from Turin. Because Aleksei Miranchuk arrived in Italy in 2020, in the midst of Covid, in the devastated city of Bergamo. It was supposed to be a sort of gift, Josip Ilicic’s backup who had had some small problems. It also cost quite a bit, given that he was bought for around 15 million, more or less the same as what was paid for others like Luis Muriel and a little less than Jeremie Boga who, for his part, had a lesser impact than the Russian. Yet for a few seasons he had not been convincing, net of some interesting goals: in this sense the move to Turin was a saving grace, where his scoring average did not improve but he understood Italian football more.
Precisely for this reason he would have preferred to stay in Bergamo last summer. Because the last season was the best season for the Nerazzurri, winning the Europa League and playing as a protagonist, albeit coming off the bench very often, but that’s another story.
“I want to thank the team, the club and the staff who have worked with me over these years. I also want to say thank you to all the supporters and fans: I have always felt loved here, the Atalanta fans are the ones at your side in moments good and bad. Now my Italian journey has come to an end but with good memories and a trophy that will always remind me of the time, the people, the love, the city! your Mira59”. Aleksei Miranchuk turns 29 today.