Alejandro Gomez and Atalanta are working to resolve the rift that has caused the exclusion of the player from the squad list in the last two matches. Transfer market expert Gianluca Di Marzio reported that the tensions seem to have placated a little behind the scenes and that that all parties involved, the player, the coach and the president, will attempt to find a way to reconciliate, however a departure in January is still the most likely outcome.
On that front, the club has reiterated to his agent Giuseppe Riso that they will not give him away for nothing but are open to selling him for a €8/12M offer. The journalist added that it is hard to imagine Papu staying in Serie A if those are indeed the conditions for his departure, given also the fact that he earns €3M per year.
He has featured for just 37 minutes in the last four matches because of a major argument with Gian Piero Gasperini in the game against Midtjylland, where he refused to move to a different position on the pitch and loudly stood up to the manager in front of the rest of the locker room.
Our view
It is tough to imagine the situation subsiding to the point that Gomez will be reintegrated to the roster, but crazier things have happened. Perhaps the appeasement could lead to him leaving at a lower price, however the Bergamaschi would likely prefer to avoid strenghtening a rival in Champions League race.