The Goddess and the Predestined. Maldini, License to Attack

THEAtalanta is preparing to close the winter market with the usual fireworks: Saturday the arrival of Daniel Maldini, taken from Monza for 13 million, yesterday the assault on the Austrian winger Stefan posch of Bologna. Operation in the home stretch, but not yet concluded. The two clubs are still ironing out the economic details of the operation: the player, who is being sought by the Germans of Hoffenheim, would arrive on loan for one million with a buyout set at seven million. But the Goddess is also thinking of another possible defender to add to the bench: on the radar there is also the very young Argentine defender Aaron Anselmino, born in 2005, who is not finding space at Chelsea. Also yesterday was the announced exit of Nicolò Zaniolo, who has landed at Fiorentina. The experience of the former Roma player ended after having collected just 23 appearances with 3 goals and 3 assists in only 563 minutes. In his place is the profile, different on a tactical level, of the emerging Maldini, since yesterday under the orders of the coach Gasperini who will have him available tomorrow night in the Coppa Italia against Bologna. The Milanese striker will be used as a second striker with the license to attack the area and find the goal with his shot from outside, already verified as an opponent with a goal and a post hit against Atalanta in the match in Monza in May 2024. Crystalline talent not yet fully expressed Maldini, with room for improvement, also in terms of scoring: so far only 10 goals in Serie A in 71 appearances between Milan, Empoli, Spezia and Monza, where in the last calendar year he exploded with 7 goals.

Gasperini will have the task of shaping him, probably on the tactical model of his peer Charles De Ketelaere, albeit with different characteristics, including physical ones. Maldini will have to make an impact right away: with Lookman out for another two weeks he will have space right away, starting tomorrow against Bologna and then on Saturday in Verona, as the third striker in an offensive department that can only count on De Ketelaere and Retegui. In the meantime, answers are expected today from the diagnostic tests for goalkeeper Carnesecchi and defender Kolasinac, out with muscle strains in the adductor and flexor, and for Scamacca, to assess the extent of the strain in the quadriceps. Gasperini said on Saturday evening that he was pessimistic about the recovery times of the three players: "They will miss Bologna and Verona on Saturday, then maybe Bruges too". The coach hopes to receive good news from the medical staff and to be able to recover them sooner. Behind, without Kolasinac the blanket has become very short with only Hien, Djimsiti and the rediscovered Toloi, who however has been plagued by muscle injuries for a year and a half and might not be able to keep up the pace of six-seven games in twenty days. Hence the need to return to the market. For this reason the Nerazzurri management is aiming to close for Posch. The defensive winger born in 1997 has the profile required by the Nerazzurri: he is ready immediately, already experienced in our championship with two and a half seasons at Bologna with 75 appearances and 7 goals and also boasts 42 appearances with the Austrian national team.