Atalanta squad restructuring under Maurizio Sarri

Atalanta is undergoing squad adjustments to accommodate manager Maurizio Sarri’s tactical shift from a three-man defense to a four-man system.

Initially, reports indicated that Atalanta might be open to the permanent sale of Nicola Zalewski, a versatile Polish international valued at approximately 20 million euros, as he may not fit Sarri’s specific tactical vision.

Subsequently, the club has moved to strengthen its roster under the direction of Cristiano Giuntoli. This includes the official presentation of new defender Kristensen, who aims to support the transition to the four-man line. While the club works to retain key players like Ederson and has acquired Gaetano, it is also reportedly targeting Nicolò Savona to bolster the flanks for a 4-3-3 formation, though Nottingham Forest has shown resistance to a transfer for the player.

In a recent development, the club officially presented defender Thomas Kristensen following a rapid negotiation with Udinese. The transfer involved a fee of 22 million euros plus 3 million in bonuses and a 10% sell-on clause. Kristensen joins to fill the void left by Berat Djimsiti, who moved to Saudi Arabia.

During his presentation at the Zingonia training center, Kristensen noted that Maurizio Sarri’s ‘organized tactical project’ was a decisive factor in his move, expressing enthusiasm for transitioning from a three-man defense to Sarri’s four-man system. Sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli described the acquisition as a key move to strengthen the squad for multiple competitions, including upcoming Conference League playoffs against Hapoel Tel-Aviv.