Atalanta’s head coach Gian Piero Gasperini recently appeared on Sky Sport’s “Calciomercato, l’Originale,” where he addressed various topics, including the ongoing transfer rumors surrounding Dutch midfielder Teun Koopmeiners. Gasperini made it clear that there have been no discussions with Koopmeiners about a potential move to another club.
“We have never talked about other teams with him, neither at the end of the season nor since he returned. It’s a pity about the small injury he had before the European Championship, which prevented him from joining the Dutch national team. He has taken good care of himself over the summer and is now training well, playing well. As always, he is very present during training,” Gasperini stated.
Gasperini’s comments effectively shut down any speculation about Koopmeiners’ departure. The midfielder, born in 1998, remains a primary target for Juventus in the second phase of the transfer market. Juventus’ sporting director, Cristiano Giuntoli, is keen to strengthen the squad under Thiago Motta by adding Koopmeiners, following the acquisitions of Douglas Luiz and Kephren Thuram.
Gasperini’s stance aligns with that of Atalanta’s CEO, Luca Percassi, who recently emphasized Koopmeiners’ importance to the team. “He is a fundamental player for Atalanta, and the club has never planned his sale. Let me be clear, his sale has never been planned,” Percassi asserted.
Despite these firm declarations, there is an underlying message that Atalanta might consider selling Koopmeiners for an irresistible offer. The club reportedly values him at no less than €60 million and is not interested in player exchanges. Juventus, who have reportedly secured the player’s approval and reached a preliminary agreement on personal terms, need to generate funds through player sales to present a convincing offer to Atalanta. They might consider including a player like Dutch defender Dean Huijsen to lower the cash outlay.
The situation remains fluid, with Juventus needing to navigate financial constraints to meet Atalanta’s demands.
