How Atalanta have turned Premier League rejects into Serie A gold

Gian Piero Gasperini has entered his ninth season in charge of Atalanta football club and yet again his side are pushing the best of the best in Italian football to the limit as they currently reside 3rd place in the Serie A table.

Although their chances at domestic success have been and gone, with a shock defeat to Belgium side Club Brugge, Gasperini's side can focus soley on the Serie A.

The names of this Atalanta team sheet are very recognisable but not for the right reasons, with most of the players proving to be a flop on their journey to Italy with pit stops in the Premier League. But while no success was to be found in England, under Gasperini, they have flourished in the Italian league.

Let’s take a look at a few Premier League flops who have thrived for Atalanta this season.

Juan Cuadrado

While the Colombian may be more well known for his time spent at Juventus, Juan Cuadrado spent just over a season in the Premier League back ten years ago.

Signed by ‘the Great One’ Jose Mourinho for a fee of €31 million, Cuadrado struggled to breach the starting eleven and performed poorly when he made this way onto the pitch managing just one goal contribution in 20 appearances across all competitions for the Blues. Although he never managed to get on the scoresheet, he did however find his name in the referees book on a handful occasion as the right sided player acquired three yellow cards during his time in England.

After half a season in the Premier League, Cuadrado was sent on loan to Italian giants Juventus. He would go on to enjoy a brilliant season for the Old Lady, with four goals and five assists across 28 league appearances as well as finding the back of the net in the Champions League. Bouncing back and fourth between Chelsea and Juventus for the next two seasons until Juventus made Cuadrado a permanent player, signing the Colombian for €20 million before the beginning of the 2017/2018 season.

He shined for Juventus but faced trouble with the likes of Dani Alves already at the club and then the signing of Joao Cancelo to battle for the starter in their position. After eight specactular years, Cuadrado was sold on a free to Inter Milan and after only ten appearances for the club he was moving on to Atalanta.

Having already made 24 appearances so far the Orobics, Juan Cuadrado has found decent form cementing himself as a right winger. With three goal contributions so far, Cuadrado is looking to finish his contract on a high, with rumours flurrying around about Gasperini’s departure at the end of the season is likely to mean Cuadrado will be on the move elsewhere.

Marten de Roon

The Dutch midfielder is currently playing in his ninth season for Atalanta and it is shaping up to be arguably the best of his career.

However on 4th July 2016, after one season at Atalanta, de Roon was on the move and signed for newly promoted Middlesbrough for their first ever season in the Premier League.

With four goals from 33 appearances, de Roon and Middlesbrough endured a poor season which saw the Boro go straight back down to the Championship and Marten de Roon answered when Atalanta asked for him back.

Completing the midfield with his leadership and tactical awareness, Marten de Roon has been pivotal to the success of the team this season as they continue to fight at the top end of the Serie A table. He has been described this season as one of the league’s most reliable midfielders.

Sead Kolasinac

Bosnian left back Sead Kolasinac made headlines for protecting Mesut Ozil from attempted robbery and managing an Arsenal player of the month back in August 2017. However, to Arsenal fans he was known for having the most blocked passes of any player they had ever seen and just an overall lack lustre player to watch.

Kolasinac made over 100 appearances across all competitions in the five year stint he spent at the Gunners. He charted a decent record for Arsenal with 17 clean sheets and 41 wins from 80 Premier League matches, however the fullback never stood out as being a good player whilst in England.

He would then go on to spend two seasons at French side Marseille, where he would establish himself as a better player and improved his game going forward, collecting four goals and two assists from 47 league appearances.

Now on his second season with Atalanta, Kolasinac has become a vital player for Gasperini’s system and has been a regular starter week in and week out although has suffered slightly with injuries. The converted centre back boasts a brilliant record, collecting seven clean sheets from 18 Serie A games while only conceding 14 goals from those 18 games played in the league.

Ademola Lookman

Saving the best of them for last, African Football of the Year Ademola Lookman has been phenomenal since making the move from the Premier League to the Serie A.

Lookman has featured for three different Premier League teams, making appearances for Everton, Fulham and then finally Leicester City before heading oversees and to Italy where he has spent the last three seasons playing for Gasperini’s Atalanta.

Rising through the ranks in the Everton U-23’s, The Nigerian winger broke into the first team after just one appearance, but only managed one goal in his debut season for Everton. He struggled for game time the season after but in 2018/2019 he would record 21 matches for the Toffees but could only provide two assists and was unable to find the back of the net.

He bounced over to Germany for two seasons, competing for RB Leipzig and enjoyed some success in his first season, collecting eight goal contributions from 11 league matches. However his second season would be met with dismay as the forward could not record a goal or an assist in 11 matches.

Returning to England, Ademola Lookman was now a Fulham player and became a regular starter, managing four goals and four assists from 34 appearances. However, his name would be dragged in the media, after a terrible attempt at a paneka in the 98th minute against West Ham saw Fulham defeated 1-0. After one season, Lookman moved on to Leicester City where he maintained a prolific stature, managing eight goals from 32 games across all competitions for the Foxes.

Now entering his third consecutive season for Atalanta, Ademola Lookman has transformed himself into a completely different player. So far this season he has managed 18 goals and six assists from 29 games played and has his name floating round for Serie A Player of the Season as he continues to lead his side to glory.