Atalanta have made significant moves to strengthen their wing positions, securing Raoul Bellanova from Torino in a deal worth approximately €20 million. The return of the 23-year-old right-back to Bergamo is a notable acquisition for the club. However, this move doesn’t signal the end of Atalanta’s transfer activities in this area.
Calciomercato outline how the club had initially planned to pair Bellanova with Wesley, a 20-year-old right-back from Flamengo who had already agreed to join Atalanta. However, the deal for Wesley has fallen through due to complications in the final stages of negotiations. Atalanta reportedly communicated to Flamengo that they would no longer be pursuing the transfer.
The breakdown in Wesley’s transfer was attributed to delays in receiving final documentation from the Brazilian club. Additionally, when the documents arrived, they included a clause stating that Wesley would only travel to Bergamo on August 26th. This presented a significant risk for Atalanta, as it would leave little time for medical examinations and potential replacement if issues arose.
With Bellanova’s arrival and Wesley’s deal collapsing, Atalanta is reassessing their options for the wing positions. The club is now monitoring both right and left-backs in the transfer market. Names being linked include Juan Cuadrado, who is currently a free agent after his stint with Inter Milan, Robin Gosens, who has been pushing for a return to Bergamo, and Lutsharel Geertruida from Feyenoord, although his €32 million price tag could be a stumbling block.
The club’s current setup sees Davide Zappacosta as a versatile option for both flanks, potentially alternating with Matteo Ruggeri on the left side. Young talent Giorgio Scalvini (born in 2003) is also expected to contribute in these positions.
