Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi has suggested that Charles De Ketelaere should stay at the club beyond his loan spell this season which would mean a transfer fee for AC Milan.
Speaking to Mediaset (via Milan News) ahead of Atalanta’s Coppa Italia semi-final second-leg against Fiorentina, Percassi was asked what his advice to De Ketelaere would be given the promising season he has enjoyed in Bergamo.
Percassi explained that he thinks the Belgian should try and secure a future at the place he feels comfortable.
“I would suggest that he confirm his home in Bergamo, because it is a beautiful city where he is very comfortable,” Percassi said.
De Ketelaere joined Atalanta on loan from Milan in the summer of 2023 for a €3m fee, and there is an option for La Dea to sign him permanently for around €23m. The player appears keen to stay at Atalanta.
Considering his tough first season in Italy with Milan after joining from Club Brugge, his figures for Atalanta have been a pleasant surprise.
Across Serie A, the Coppa Italia and the Europa League, he has scored 11 goals and provided eight assists. The team are still fighting in all three competitions too, so more goals will presumably come.
Milan spent €36.5m on De Ketelaere to bring him over from Belgium after a long transfer saga so it will still be a failed move, but they could get most of that fee back.
Give us the money and good riddance, RLC is not perfect but twice the player he is, not to start with Pulisic.
CDK does not play the same position as RLC. If our new coach employs two strikers, we would benefit from bringing him back. After watching Daniel Maldini single-handedly drag Monza back into the Atalanta game, it might be worth bringing him back to replace/deputy RLC. I know this is never going to happen after firing Paolo Maldini, but RLC is too inconsistent. CDK has shown his ability with Atalanta and could work for us in a two striker or 433 formation.
Rather than ‘good riddance’, I’d lean more towards ‘what a pity’.
Some players hit the ground running, some need time to settle, some might never settle at all. Just be glad that CDK managed to (dare I say) be the ‘most improved’ player in Serie-A and in turns, we would be recouping some money back to be spent elsewhere – so to prevent a total loss.
Just a pity that it never worked out as expected with us. But such is life.
Two different types of players with different attributes but definitely RLC isn’t twice the player as CDK. Seeing as they both play the same position effectively (SS) CDK actually more goal contributions this year than RLC. But this is what happens when players take time to settle in. Patience is needed with young players too
Atalanta fits charles perfectly, no pressure on him and no ambition to win big trophies.
Yes, with ambition like this milan lost to Atalanta 2 out of 3 times and dropped out of every other competition. Some biiiiig ambition milan have! What a result man!
The difference level of coaching is unbelievable
The way he runs honestly is like kaka but finishing and decision making have to improve tremendously, keep in mind he’s still young
Bring the cash !. Enough of your accolade.
We can use d money to get a DM.