Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini appears to taunt Juventus and Manchester United who have been linked with the Nerazzurri star Teun Koopmeiners: ‘These rumours are fuelled because other teams have little to do.’
The Atalanta boss spoke at a press conference on Wednesday on the eve of a Europa League quarter-final second leg against Liverpool.
The Italian tactician clearly faced many questions about the Reds, but one also concerned the future of Atalanta star Koopmeiners.
The Dutch international has been linked with Juventus and Manchester United and Football Italia transfer pundit Matteo Moretto has recently stated that both clubs have already sounded out the Netherlands international.
“He [Koopmeiners] is playing with Atalanta and is also playing very well. Atalanta are in three competitions, we hope to be in everything in the next month too,” said Gasperini.
“It is clear that in this period of the season, there may be clubs less involved in the cups and therefore these rumours are fuelled because other teams have little to do and maybe they wonder if it’s right that Atalanta are in the cup quarter-finals, so these things come out.”
Juventus have not played in European competitions this term following a one-season ban from UEFA for financial irregularities. On the other hand, Manchester United did play in the 2023-24 Champions League but were eliminated in the group stage, finishing fourth behind Bayern Munich, Copenhagen and Galatasaray.
Koopmeiners said in March that he’d leave Atalanta at the end of the season, provided that his club receive an adequate offer. Multiple sourced claim Atalanta’s asking price for the 26-year-old midfielder is around €60m.