Atalanta will soon have to make a call on Charles De Ketelaere’s future and the AC Milan management are not looking too kindly on the idea of renegotiation.
According to this morning’s edition Tuttosport (via PianetaMilan), Atalanta’s option to buy De Ketelaere expires on Friday 14 June. The figures agreed 23 months ago are as follows: €23m for the permanent deal, plus €3m in bonuses plus 10% on any future resale of the player.
Milan are awaiting contact from La Dea but they are not willing to grant any discount on the agreed price, especially after a season with 14 goals and 11 assists across all competitions. Despite his great form, Atalanta seem determined to ask for the figures to be lowered.
In the event of Milan’s refusal to negotiate, Atalanta would have two options. Either they keep a player who would happily stay having shown his true abilities under Gian Piero Gasperini, or they let the option expire.
Milan are not worried, because they believe they will get fair value for the Belgian regardless. In fact, foreign clubs have come back in for De Ketelaere and would be willing to make offers that certainly higher than the option to buy they agreed with Atalanta.