There’s no longer a shred of doubt – Gian Piero Gasperini is staying at Atalanta despite a genuine interest from Napoli. After overseeing another thumping 3-0 win against Torino on the last Serie A day, the 66-year-old committed his future to the Gewiss Stadium.
“I will stay at Atalanta,” Gasperini was unequivocal in his interview with Sky Sport, as quoted by Calciomercato. “I’ve always been very focused on the games that Atalanta had to play, the Europa League, the Coppa Italia, and the league to reach the Champions League.“
Gasperini confirmed contacts with Napoli were real. Aurelio De Laurentiis is a long-term admirer of the Atalanta coach, but his wish to see him in the Partenopei dugout may never come to fruition.
“De Laurentiis has been making very positive appreciations for me for many years, and I don’t deny that. I’m very pleased. But I think that in the end, I was in his thoughts, as with many other coaches. Napoli will make their choice.
“I am a coach linked to Atalanta and, therefore, I will still be,” he concluded.
It’s been a memorable season for Atalanta. Despite suffering another Coppa Italia heartache, they returned to the Serie A top four after three years. But the most significant achievement came on the continent front, as they ended Bayer Leverkusen’s 51-match unbeaten run to hoist the Europa League trophy last Wednesday.
Gasperini was the mastermind behind the club’s first-ever European title and will continue to steer Atalanta to new heights after turning down De Laurentiis.