Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi has spoken out about the ongoing transfer speculation surrounding Teun Koopmeiners and Ademola Lookman. In a recent interview with Sky, Percassi reaffirmed the club’s stance and objectives amid the transfer market turbulence.
Atalanta’s Transfer Strategy
Percassi began by echoing his father’s sentiments, stating, “We are Atalanta, and we must be clear about our objectives.” He revealed that for the first time in the club’s history, their intention was to retain all their key players following an extraordinary season.
“Last year, we had the desire to keep all our star players who were protagonists of an extraordinary season with us,” Percassi explained. He acknowledged that while they were prepared for some turbulence in the transfer market, certain situations caught them by surprise. Nevertheless, he assured that the club remains calm, with the ownership ready to invest and seize opportunities as they arise.
Koopmeiners and Lookman Situation
Addressing the specific cases of Koopmeiners and Lookman, Percassi maintained a firm stance. “We are calm. For the first time in our history, the idea was not to let anyone leave,” he stated. The CEO emphasized that the club has always respected its obligations and is eagerly awaiting the end of the transfer window, which has brought some misfortunes, such as Scamacca’s injury.
Percassi was unequivocal about the players’ status: “All players are Atalanta players and will only leave on our terms.”
Transfer Market Concerns
The Atalanta CEO also touched upon broader issues in the transfer market. Regarding Koopmeiners’ situation, Percassi noted, “Often, players are influenced and given inappropriate suggestions.” He stressed the need for better regulation of the transfer market, arguing that it shouldn’t be open while matches are being played.
“We need to regulate the transfer market. It can’t be open while we’re playing,” Percassi stated. He revealed that attempts were made to address this issue during the current transfer window, but efforts were thwarted due to the influence of the Arab league.
