Atalanta have made it clear that Teun Koopmeiners is central to their plans for the upcoming season, despite continued interest from Juventus. Manager Gian Piero Gasperini included the Dutch midfielder in his starting lineup for a recent friendly match against AZ Alkmaar, emphasizing Koopmeiners’ importance to the team.
Calcioermcato report that while Juventus has reportedly increased their offer for Koopmeiners to around €45 million (potentially rising to €48 million with bonuses), Atalanta remain firm in their stance. The Bergamo club values Koopmeiners at €60 million and has already rejected a €47 million bid last year.
Atalanta’s CEO, Luca Percassi, recently reiterated that selling Koopmeiners is not part of the club’s plans. This statement appears to be a direct message to Juventus, whose persistent pursuit of the player may be causing some frustration in Bergamo.
The situation is further complicated by reports that Juventus contacted Koopmeiners’ agent directly in March, potentially disrupting Atalanta’s season as they were competing on multiple fronts. According to the report, this approach has not been well-received by Atalanta, who prefer to conduct their business differently.
Atalanta’s current priority is strengthening their defence, and they feel they have sufficient funds to invest without needing to sell key players. Moreover, Gasperini sees Koopmeiners as crucial for their upcoming UEFA Super Cup match against Real Madrid and their Champions League campaign.
As it stands, only an offer significantly exceeding €60 million might make Atalanta reconsider their position. However, even then, a sale is not guaranteed given Koopmeiners’ importance to the team and Atalanta’s ambitions for the season ahead.
