Milan loanee De Ketelaere: “At Atalanta I found myself physically and mentally”

AC Milan-owned attacker Charles De Ketelaere has spoken glowingly about his time at Atalanta, a club he is expected to sign for on a permanent deal at the end of the season. 

Speaking during an interview with Sportweek (via Milan News), the Belgian player spoke about what changed within him to start playing as well as he has been for La Dea.

De Ketelaere signed for Milan from Club Brugge in the summer of 2022 and was expected to become a very important player for the Rossoneri in a short space of time. In the end, he struggled for minutes and when he was on the pitch, he failed to impress.

This led Milan to loan him to Atalanta, with an option for that deal to become permanent at the end of this season. Milan now find themselves in an odd position, because De Ketelaere has enjoyed a brilliant campaign so far.

Across all competitions, he has got nine goals and seven assists, playing in a more advanced role than Milan had originally envisaged for him. He has almost been playing as a striker.

De Ketelaere explained that something clicked in his mind when he joined Atalanta and he has been able to show his quality.

“At Atalanta, I found myself physically and mentally. Something clicked in my head and off I went. Compared to at Milan, I play in my true role, as a forward. I don’t know what will happen in the future, but now I feel like I’m there. Today I feel like I am a calm, confident, proud player. My work isn’t done, but I’m on the right track,” he said.