According to Sportitalia, Atalanta had already agreed a €15m transfer with Napoli for Italy international Michael Folorunsho, but had to abandon it after Gianluca Scamacca’s injury.
The Bergamo side have been forced to transform their entire summer strategy to reinforce the squad following the devastating news that Scamacca will be out for at least six months with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
That means they will now have to find a new centre-forward and part of the budget set aside for a midfielder has to be instead used on that role.
Folorunsho forced to miss Atalanta chance
Sportitalia transfer pundit Michele Criscitiello maintains it prompted a last-minute change, as they had already shaken hands with Napoli to pay €15m for Folorunsho.
However, Atalanta had to inform the club that the situation had changed and they would no longer be able to buy the 26-year-old.
It has been a hectic few months for Folorunsho, a product of the Lazio youth academy who has been on Napoli’s books since 2019.
He had loan spells with Bari, Reggina, Pordenone and last season Verona, where he did enough to earn a call-up to the Italy squad for EURO 2024.
The next step in his career was seemingly going to be Atalanta, until the Scamacca injury scuppered it.
Average at best