Ruslan Malinovskyi’s wife hinted at reports the Atalanta forward is in negotiations for a €20m move to Tottenham Hotspur, but that he is being forced out. ‘None of us wanted to go anywhere else.’
The Ukraine international is famous for his ferocious long-range strikes with that left foot and is a fan favourite in Bergamo.
According to various sources including Calciomercato.com, Antonio Conte and director of sport Fabio Paratici have requested Malinovskyi at Spurs.
Atalanta are in the process of completely overhauling their squad after failing to qualify for Europe and could attempt an exchange with Tottenham for Sergio Reguilon, although they are put off by his wage demands.
Malinovskyi’s wife Roksana Malinovska wrote a message on her Instagram Stories that seemed to suggest a transfer was imminent.
“We bought our house in Bergamo two years ago, it has only just been finished and I am slowly emptying out the last boxes,” she wrote in Italian.
“Bergamo is our home, we do not have another, but football and life are united… There is nothing more important to me than family and Ruslan’s career.
“If he cannot remain with Atalanta, he must find another solution. Naturally, it’s very sad for us, but this is life in football. He has to think about his future as a professional football player.
“We are happy here. We were not ready to have to change our lives. The transfer window is coming to an end and now we are forced to seek other options. Seek… because there is a serious reason. You have to read between the lines.
“Ruslan was preparing for the new season and we moved into our new house, but something went wrong. You must only understand that none of us wanted to go anywhere else.
“I tell you this because it is very important, because you are a big part of this team.”
Roksana is well known in Bergamo, where she runs a shop, and has been at the centre of fund-raising initiatives for the people of Ukraine since the Russian invasion.
Fans reacted with hurt and disappointment on her posts, blaming coach Gian Piero Gasperini and urging the club to reconsider.