Charles De Ketelaere has given some interesting background regarding his move to Atalanta in the summer, confirming there were other offers on the table and that AC Milan encouraged him to leave.
De Ketelaere was Milan’s big signing last summer after the Scudetto win, arriving from Club Brugge in a deal worth over €30m, but he never really hit the heights expected and failed to score a single goal.
An influx of new signings during the most recent mercato in addition to a formation change to a 4-3-3 led to speculation that the Belgian was no longer part of Stefano Pioli’s plans, and sure enough he departed.
On their official website, Milan confirmed that De Ketelaere had joined Atalanta on a season-long loan. The Nerazzurri have an option to buy in their favour too, so they can make the deal permanent. He has started well, with a goal and an assist in three games.
De Ketelaere is currently with the Belgian national team preparing for their 2024 European Championship qualifiers, and he spoke during a press conference about his decision to leave Milan after a year.
“When you arrive in a new place there is a lot to do. Adapt to the country, the game system, the language. But of course, if it didn’t work out at Milan, it was also partly my fault. It wasn’t the season I expected, but I don’t regret it,” he said (via SempreMilan.it).
“I didn’t always reach a high level, and entering the game in progress as often happened to me didn’t help. I’m not an explosive type, I feel better when I’m on the pitch for a longer period of time and can really get into the flow of a game.
“The criticisms did the rest. I don’t always read the newspapers, I try to isolate myself. But you still feel them and you don’t remain indifferent.
“Not having scored was a problem, people ask for goals and assists, they don’t just look at the performance. I learned a lot there, tactically I have more experience. Absolutely so that I have become a better player.
“Did Milan suggest I leave? In part yes. But I also knew that I would have little space. There had been negotiations throughout the summer. I asked myself: do I wait for my chance, do I also stay and play a little less? Or do I go to another team to test myself?
“The second hypothesis made me feel better. Atalanta even more so. I want to show off in the club. It’s not that I didn’t want to go to PSV or other teams, I simply wanted Atalanta.
“Here I am playing higher, closer to the goal, this way I can become the best version of myself again. Last year, however, I was an attacking midfielder.”
Whatever the reason, at Milan he just didn’t fit. However, we wish him luck with his new club.
Because Pioli is a genius that used him out of position and played Origi and Rebic up front when Giroud was not available…
NOT AM
We can’t keep saying “just didn’t fit”……
Hundreds of players in the past 10 years “just didn’t fit”. That’s a lot of turnover and wasted talent.
You don’t even need to have an opinion, he said it himself. “Here I am playing higher, closer to the goal, this way I can become the best version of myself again. Last year, however, I was an attacking midfielder.”
LMAO 😂. I know sometimes it’s really funny reading the comments when the answer is literally in the article
He told you the reason he didn’t fit in lol. There is no guessing. It’s in black and white
If CDK like to play higher than AMC, he can be the Lone Striker at 4-3-3. We might have the Future Giroud’s. CDK is 192 cm too. But IM affraid, there is very high chance he Will permanen at Atalanta next year.
he cant play st in 433 under pioli. if he could play the “lone striker” he would’ve been used there last season
“Here I am playing higher, closer to the goal, this way I can become the best version of myself again. Last year, however, I was an attacking midfielder.”
This is really interesting. So did they buy him and play him out of position hoping things would work out? Pioli had to have had a reason why he wanted him and how to use him
“Did Milan suggest I leave? In part yes.”
That’s also crazy. Imagine the dude that scouted you and helped signed you wants you to leave after a year? And after adaptation too. Romero be warned lol 🤭
Missing link between the management and the coach. Somehow it happened again to some extent with Okafor. When it turned out that he’s more suitable for a LW / SS. When we know Pioli had more say this season.
Seems like the issue is still there to me ie that management-coach requests. I’m not sure what conversations they have with the player before they come but where they play I would think would be important
Best of luck to CDK though
I think Moncada believed he has the right characteristic to be used as AM, that’s why he recommended CDK to Maldini and even helped the transfer to go through. However, CDK fail to adapt to the new position.
Leao was’t originally signed as LW but Pioli had him adapt to LW position, took years though.
Leao was always a left winger. He played support striker, but always loved to drift out wide. He was bought as SS for Giampaolo. When Pioli took over, he first played a 4-4-2,when he eventually switched to 4-2-3-1, Leao and Rebic started playing on the LW.
As I’ve always said – if there is a team that can get the best out of him, it’s La Dea!
So I wish CDK all the luck in the world! I wish they win the EL!
Davide Calabria is the mafia leader who made CDK feel rejected and dejected.
Calabria carried Brahim Diaz on his back and fought against CDK every chance he got.
thanks alot of information goodjobs