When one of the most complete midfielders on the market confirms his desire to leave his current club – at a time in which he is being linked with Manchester United, Napoli, Juventus and a handful of other European powerhouses – the headlines almost write themselves.
And, with reports from Italy claiming that Manchester United have sent scouts to watch Atalanta’s latest superstar-in-waiting in recent weeks, the interview Teun Koopmeiners gave to De Telegraaf during the March international break may have got tongues wagging at Old Trafford.
“I told Atalanta I want to leave in the summer,” the former AZ Alkmaar captain admits, before going on to throw the doors wide open to the Premeir League.
“Last season, there was concrete interest from Napoli, but the two clubs didn’t reach an agreement. I hope there will be options to consider this year. My girlfriend and I are enjoying Italy, but I would endure rain for some clubs in England.
“I’d lie if I said I have no news of interest from Juventus and Premier League clubs. I read the news, too. I’ve had an amazing time at Atalanta, and I hope they will get a big sum (while selling me).”
Teun Koopmeiners opens Manchester United door
Man United have a history when it comes to pursuing the bright lights of Bergamo. Amad Diallo, Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final hero, arrived in Manchester from Atalanta. Ditto Rasmus Hojlund. The £60 million-rated Koopmeiners, meanwhile, is not merely on the Red Devils’ radar because Erik ten Hag knows him from the Eredivisie.
Since swapping AZ for Atalanta, Koopmeiners has blossomed from a deep-lying controller into a box-crashing dynamo. He’s hit double figures in each of his Serie A seasons, has two hat-tricks to his name, while a cocktail of technical and physical qualities make the 26-year-old a potentially inspired addition to a Man United midfield in need of a new more players in their prime.
Ex-Atalanta chief convinced of Juventus move
Former Atalanta director Pierpaolo Marino remains well attuned to the goings’ on at his former employers. As far as he is concerned, however there is only one club Koopmeiners is joining this summer.
And it’s not Man United, but instead the team Koopmeiners hit a 40-minute brace against earlier this month.
“The money asked (to sign Koopmeiners) is a lot,” Marino tells Tuttomercatoweb. “But the formulas can be found, because there are relationships between Atalanta and Juventus. In my opinion, they will carry out the operation.
“As an outsider and expert of the dynamics, I can say that Juve have an advantage over Koopmeiners.”
According to FC Inter News, Man United also watched Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini and Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee during a recent scouting trip to Serie A.