Marco Palestra says goodbye to Cagliari with one more prize: there are four hypotheses for his future
Among the footballers honored at the end of the season by Lega Serie A is also the name of Marco Palestra, named best defender after a splendid season in Cagliari that also allowed him to wear the national team jersey (although without taking, despite himself, the satisfaction of qualifying for the World Cup). The award, which was made official on Friday, takes into account statistical analysis, technical events and positional data, as explained by Lega Serie A itself.
The award comes at a time when a new career phase is opening for Palestra. With the end of the loan, the defender will in fact return to Atalanta, a club that owns the player’s card and intends to evaluate his future after a season that has certified his growth. The orobici consider the class of 2005 a technical and economic asset and have no intention of selling him off: the request starts at 40 million euros, a figure that reflects the impact had by the player in Serie A.
On him remains strong the interest of Inter, which has been following him steadily for months and would be ready to present a significant offer. The Nerazzurri strategy, however, is clear: to try to close the deal without reaching the figures set by Atalanta, perhaps by inserting quid pro quos or studying formulas that could soften the Bergamo club’s position. The technical esteem towards Palestra is total, but the negotiation promises to be complex.
The Premier League hypothesis also remains on the table, where more than one club has gathered information in recent weeks. Palestra’s profile, a young, physical and modern footballer, is much liked in England, and a possible raise by clubs with great economic availability could change the balance of the summer market.
More defiladed, on the other hand, is Juventus, which had been monitoring the player but is unlikely to sink the blow without qualification for the next Champions League. The Bianconeri’s priorities, in case of non-access to the top European competition, would be other and the budget allocated to the summer market would inevitably be reduced.
