Atalanta sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli has reviewed the club’s summer transfer window and explained how Marten de Roon’s request to join Roma led to the arrival of Franck Kessié.
Cristiano Giuntoli addressed Atalanta’s summer business during a press conference held after the transfer window closed.
The sporting director discussed the appointment of Maurizio Sarri, Atalanta’s new arrivals and the decision to allow long-serving captain Marten de Roon to reunite with Gian Piero Gasperini at Roma.
De Roon Asked Atalanta to Let Him Join Roma
Giuntoli revealed that De Roon personally requested permission to complete the move to the Italian capital.
“I want to review what our transfer window was,” Giuntoli said. “First of all, I want to thank the Percassi family and Pagliuca for their trust, particularly Luca for his help during these months.
“We started with Sarri, convinced that he is the right person to begin a new cycle, and we are happy to have him with us. We started with an Italian playmaker like Gaetano, then Kristensen following Djimsiti’s departure.
“After that, Elmas arrived. He is a very versatile player and compatible with Maurizio Sarri’s 4-3-3. Then De Roon asked us to let him join Roma, and we immediately moved for Kessié.”
De Roon subsequently explained that his desire to continue playing regularly and the opportunity to work with Gasperini again were fundamental to his decision. The midfielder said he still had plenty to offer when he addressed his emotional departure from Atalanta.
Giuntoli: “When a Player Wants to Leave, You Have to Listen”
Giuntoli admitted that Atalanta were disappointed to lose such an an important figure but felt it was necessary to respect the player’s wishes.
“When a player wants to leave, you have to listen to him,” he said. “We are sorry, but we must turn the page and move forward. Kessié is also a player with personality who can help this new Atalanta.”
De Roon made his Roma debut against Lecce before featuring among Gasperini’s substitutes during the dramatic 2-1 victory over Atalanta at the Stadio Olimpico.
Kessié Considered Fundamental to Atalanta’s New Project
Giuntoli described Kessié as a central part of the club’s rebuilding process under Sarri.
“For us, he is a fundamental player for this project,” Giuntoli said. “The excellent relationship with Luca was decisive in completing the signing.
“Franck is a complete midfielder who possesses the physical and technical qualities to play either as a deep-lying midfielder or as a central midfielder. For us, he represents an important cornerstone upon which to build the new Atalanta.”
Giuntoli also discussed the club’s other attacking addition.
“Then there is Rowe, the final piece who can give us important quality in the final 30 metres alongside all our other attackers,” he added.
Atalanta Believe Their Squad Has Improved
Atalanta ultimately decided against adding another defender despite being linked with several possible reinforcements.
“We did not sign another defender, as had been called for in the media, but the reason is connected to several factors,” Giuntoli explained. “Hien is recovering and Obric is developing very well.
“We followed some players who initially represented major opportunities, but the situation then developed differently. We believe we have an improved squad and, above all, a squad with quality.”
The director stressed that Atalanta will require patience as the team adapts to Sarri’s methods.
“I may sound repetitive, but the new cycle needs time,” he said. “The team must adapt tactically, mentally and physically. It will take time, but we are confident.”
Giuntoli Explains Atalanta’s Other Transfer Decisions
Asked about Alajbegovic and Romagnoli, Giuntoli said Atalanta had considered several opportunities before choosing different solutions.
“Atalanta gather information on many players, and it is clear that opportunities emerge during the transfer market,” he said. “For the wide position, we opted for a player who was more prepared in Rowe and who could provide immediate guarantees.
“In defence, we already had Obric developing, while Hien’s important return also had to be considered. We did not want to overcrowd the department.”
Giuntoli added that the summer transfer window had been affected by the World Cup and the timing of different negotiations.
“The market has always had its own timing and differences,” he said. “The transfer campaign was influenced by the World Cup.
“It is true that the figures involved are always high, but we believe we have made important investments that can provide long-term benefits because of the players’ young ages. They can become important assets for Atalanta.”
Atalanta Target a Strong New Identity
Giuntoli stopped short of declaring Champions League qualification as Atalanta’s immediate objective, instead emphasizing the need to establish a clear identity.
“My ambition leads me to say that we must find the right, strong identity, and then the objectives will become clear,” he said. “Targets can be too ambitious or even too modest. I think about working consistently.
“Our objective is to restart strongly. We believe we completed excellent work during the transfer market.”
He also praised Atalanta’s growth under the Percassi and Pagliuca families.
“Atalanta have accomplished great things over these years,” Giuntoli said. “From the Pagliuca family to the Percassi family, and particularly Luca, whom I consider a great executive of the highest level who has helped the organization grow.
“Atalanta are a major team in Italy and Europe. This is an important club.”
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