Transfer Market: Atalanta Knocks on Cagliari’s Door Again

Atalanta has officially ushered in the Maurizio Sarri era, and with the new coach at the helm, the club is ready to make some bold moves in the transfer market. One of the first names identified to bolster the squad is Gianluca Gaetano, a versatile midfielder who finished the 2025-2026 season with 35 total appearances across the league and Coppa Italia, scoring three goals and providing four assists.

The Bergamo-based club had already expressed interest in recent weeks and now, as reported by ‘L’Eco di Bergamo’, has returned to the fray, bolstered by its strong relationship with Cagliari, solidified by the Marco Palestra deal: the full-back, who burst onto the scene in Sardinia during the last league season, has in fact returned to Atalanta after his loan, confirming the strong bond between the two clubs.

Gaetano, born in 2000, arrived in Sardinia in 2024 on loan from Napoli, and Cagliari bought him outright in 2025 after a season and a half of steady improvement. His versatility, which allows him to play both as an attacking midfielder and a playmaker, makes him an ideal fit for Sarri’s style of play, as the coach looks to establish his philosophy at Atalanta as well.

Atalanta is evaluating how to structure a potential offer, aware that Cagliari has no intention of letting the player go easily. Gaetano is considered central to the Rossoblù’s project, and only a significant offer—perhaps including a player swap—could open the door.