Atalanta's Mateo Retegui in Saudi Arabia: the player has doubts about a transfer to Al Qadsiah.

Bergamo, 9 July 2025 – Decisive hours for the possible transfer of Mateo Retegui in ArabiaHours of reflection, especially for the player. For Atalanta, the position is clear: there is no intention of selling the top scorer from last season unless it's for a figure close to 60 million: if this offer really arrives, as happened last summer with Juventus for koopmeiners, the deal can be done. But precisely under the economic conditions decided by Atalanta that could be achieved the most sensational of capital gains, selling for 60 million (plus future bonuses) a player bought just eleven months ago for 22, putting a positive balance on the balance sheet of more than 38 million.

The Goddess has a plan B ready, being able to immediately invest a significant amount, around 25 million, to get other Azzurri strikers like Lorenzo Lucca, 25 year old Turin tower leaving Udinese with whom he scored 20 goals in the last two years, or his peer James Raspadori, a decisive offensive wildcard in Napoli's last two Scudetti, already experienced at Champions League level, among the Azzurri winners at the 2021 European Championship. But as mentioned, these are hours of reflection for Retegui: Al Qadsiah's offer has risen to dizzying figures, around 20 million a year for three years, but a four-year contract with a total salary of 80 million is even ready.

Stellar figures For a player who, in just two years, went from modest salaries in Argentine football to newly promoted Genoa in Serie A and then to Atalanta, where he arrived last August with a calling card of just seven goals in his first year in Serie A. Then came the 7 goals of this championship and now the possibility of a contract that will change the lives of the rest of his family as well. There is a but holding Retegui back: nin the year leading up to the American World Cup to confine oneself in golden periphery of the modest Saudi League it would mean slowing down or even compromising his ambitions for the blue jersey.

Competitors like Scamacca, Lucca, Raspadori, and other up-and-coming players will play in Serie A and the Champions League, making their mark in the most prestigious footballing arenas. And even for coach Gattuso, flying to Saudi Arabia to follow a single Azzurri player live would be difficult. This is a consideration Retegui is making, weighing a stellar salary on one hand against the risk of becoming a "golden baby pensioner" at just 26, when his career is entering its prime. In all of this, however, Atalanta has the final say and no financial pressure to raise funds: the deal will only go through if the Nerazzurri management deems Al Qadsiah's offer adequate. But the Arabs have already shown they can raise the stakes by up to €60 million...