Atalanta barely avoided relegation last season finishing in 17th place, and they will be in tough to do better after an abysmal summer transfer window.
It was just a matter of time before Atalanta would be unable to resist cashing in for some of their players. During the January transfer window last season, Atalanta was praised for refusing to follow the trend of loaning out players with a forced option to buy. They served notice they had every intention to remain in Serie A and their gamble paid off.
This summer however Atalanta caved in and sold some of their key players – in particular Davide Zappacosta and Daniele Baselli who both were sold to Torino.
They were not adequately replaced and coach Edoardo Reja, who took over from sacked Stefano Colantuono last March, will have to work his magic to get the most out his squad to avoid relegation.
They will also be in tough to retain the services of Chilean international Mauricio Pinilla. The recent Copa America champion made it clear he wants to remain in Atalanta, however would consider his options if a big club playing in European competition would be interested in his services. He made a significant impact upon his arrival in January – scoring 6 goals in 12 games. Atalanta will rely on him to provide offence along with German Denis.
Transfers
IN |
OUT |
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| Stefano Cason (D) (Siena) DEF Gaetano Monachello (F) (Monaco) REL Boris Radunovic (G) (FK Rad) DEF Marcos de Paula (F) (Chievo Verona) REL Marten de Roon (M) (Heerenveen) DEF Isnik Alimi (F) (Chievo Verona) DEF Luca Valzania (M) (Cesena) DEF Davide Bassi (G) (Empoli) REL Denis Di Rocco (F) (Pescara) DEF Jasmin Kurtic (M) (Sassuolo) DEF Simone Emmanuello (M) (Juventus) DEF Edoardo Ceria (F) (Juventus) DEF Richmond Boakye (F) (Juventus) DEF Mauricio Pinilla (F) (Genoa) DEF |
Valerio Nava (D) (Ascoli) PRE Antonio Palma (C) (Juve Stabia ) PRE Prince Gouano (D) (Bolton) PRE Stefano Cason (D) (Melfi) PRE Urby Emanuelson (D) (svincolato) DEF Tommaso Tentoni (A) (Forli’) PRE Davide Merelli (P) (Forli’) PRE Yohan Benalouane (D) (Leicester ) DEF Giuseppe Biava (D) (svincolato) DEF Doudou Mangni (A) (Sanliurfaspor) DEF Roberto Gagliardini (C) (Vicenza) PRE Nadir Minotti (C) (Como) PRE Petar Forgacs (D) (Pisa) PRE Simone Magnaghi (A) (Cremonese) PRE Simone Emmanuello (C) (Pro Vercelli) PRE Luca Zanotti (P) (Melfi) PRE Constantin Nica (D) (Avellino) PRE Giuseppe De Luca (A) (Bari) PRE Ruben Bentancourt (A) (Arezzo) PRE Luca Milesi (D) (Arezzo) PRE Matteo Ardemagni (A) (Perugia ) PRE Matteo Scozzarella (C) (Trapani ) DEF Matteo Contini (D) (Bari) PRE Davide Zappacosta (D) (Torino) DEF Daniele Baselli (C) (Torino) DEF Mattia Caldara (D) (Cesena) PRE Daniele Capelli (D) (Cesena) DEF Leonardo Gatto (C) (Vicenza) PRE Salvatore Molina (C) (Cesena) PRE Janis Cavagna (C) (Trapani ) PRE Federico Varano (A) (Cesena) DEF Vlada Avramov (P) (svincolato) DEF Moussa Konè (C) (Cesena) DEF Luca Valzania (C) (Cesena) PRE Davide Savi (D) (Chievo Verona) DEF Alex Redolfi (D) (Pro Vercelli) PRE Lionel Scaloni (D) (svincolato) DEF Gianluca Barba (C) (Pescara) DEF Nicola Madonna (C) (Spezia ) DEF Riccardo Tantardini (D) (Feralpisalo’) DEF |
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Atalanta unloaded three core players in Benalouane, Baselli and Zappacosta for an inevitable cash grab. In their place are arrivals Kurtic from Sassuolo, Cason from Cesena and Boakye from Juventus. They are definitely a downgrade and not of the same calibre as the departed players. Look for Reja to give some youngsters a chance to show their stuff as Atalanta has little depth with experienced players of Serie A calibre.
How will they lineup next season?
Reja should remain faithful to his preferred 4-3-3 formation. To start the season expect Atalanta to lineup as follows (newcomers in CAPS)
Sportiello; Raimondi – Masiello – Cherubin – Drame; KURTIC – DE ROON – Carmona; Pinilla – Denis – Gomez
Key Player: German Denis
Atalanta’s leading goal scorer, the fiery 33 year-old Argentinian will be counted on to return to form and concentrate on scoring goals and not get into trouble with the league. Nicknamed the ‘tank’ Denis was suspended for 5 matches last season as he entered Empoli’s changing room and threatened and punched defender Lorenzo Tonelli. Along with Pinilla, Denis will be Atalanta’s catalyst up front.
Looking forward to the 2015-2016 season:
Based solely on the investments made this summer, Atalanta seems set for a return to Serie B. They have considerably weakened their roster with the sale of some of their most talented core players. Reja will have his work cut out for him to get the most out of a bottom of the table calibre roster.
Predicted league finish: 19th
Coppa Italia finish: Round of sixteen
The post 2015-2016 Season Preview: Atalanta appeared first on Italian Football Daily.
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