Atalanta director Luca Percassi insists La Dea’s identity won’t change and is proud to see the team in the Europa League quarter-finals: ‘I always think about the win against Everton…’
In February, the Percassi family sold 55% of the club to American investors. The consortium includes Boston Celtics owners Stephen Pagliuca who has already spoken out about his project for the development of La Dea.
“Pagliuca has chosen us because he appreciates our management model, he doesn’t want to change it,” Percassi told L’Eco di Bergamo newspaper.
“Our plan is to increase the financial gains and develop the club, Steve will bring massive commercial potential. The squad won’t be weakened, regardless of a top-four finish this season.”
However, the arrival of American investors could see sporting director Giovanni Sartori leave the club, with Lee Congerton coming in to replace him.
“Lee has arrived to implement the structure. It’s an opportunity that we’ve taken. That’s what I can say, if there will be more opportunities, we’ll be ready to take them.”
Atalanta have qualified for the Champions League three times in a row but may miss out on a top-four finish this term. They currently sit fifth in the table, eight points behind Juventus, but with a game in hand.
However, they are one of the only two Italian teams still involved in European competition, having reached the Europa League quarter-finals, where they will face RB Leipzig.
“We won’t give up on any of our targets,” Percassi insisted.
“We are battling with great clubs and the path is still long. To us, it is an honour to play in Europe. Every time we do it, I think about the 3-0 win against Everton at Reggio Emilia. It all started from there.”
La Dea met the Toffees in the Europa League group stage in 2017, their first season in Europe during the Percassi era. They were still playing European fixtures away from Bergamo as the Gewiss Stadium was not up to UEFA’s standards. The Nerazzurri won both games against Everton: 5-1 in England and 3-0 in Italy.
Last but not least, Percassi revealed that their star striker would return to action before the end of the season.
“At the end of the month, he will surely be at Zingonia to begin his reintroduction into the group,” ensured Percassi.
“He has already worked with the ball at Sevilla and doing the same here with his teammates will be different. Toloi will also return and we will play for our targets together.”
#Percassi: 'Nuovi soci? L'#Atalanta non cambia gestione e non sarà indebolita. Europa League possibile. #Zapata torna' https://t.co/OPmXLTiayD pic.twitter.com/hR3PiamC82
— calciomercato.com (@cmdotcom) March 28, 2022