- 20 Nov 2024
PSG, Milan and Inter on alert with Papu Gomez set to leave Atalanta
Carlo Garganese
- Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
- 2 min read
Atalanta captain Papu Gomez is very likely to leave the club in January, FootballTransfers understands, after he was left out of the squad to face Roma on Sunday.
Gomez had a highly-publicised falling-out with coach Gian Piero Gasperini during half-time of the Champions League clash against Midtjylland a few weeks ago.
The Argentine had refused orders from his coach and then failed to emerge for the second half.
Relations between the pair have soured further since this incident, with Papu suggesting last week in an Instagram post that an exit was imminent: “Dear fans, I’m writing to you here because I have no other means to defend myself or talk to you.
“I just want to tell you that, when I leave, you will know the truth about everything. You know me well; you know who I am. I love you, your captain.”
Attempts from president Antonio Percassi to reconcile the duo have failed and things have deteriorated since Papu’s substitute appearance in the 1-1 draw against Juventus in midweek.
Gasperini has now left Gomez out of Atalanta’s Serie A squad to face Roma on Sunday, with the coach having been angered by the 32-year-old’s lack of professionalism.
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“The coach, in agreement with the club, has decided not to call the player Alejandro Papu Gomez due to a technical choice,” the club announced in a statement.
Against Juve, Papu was spotted singing Juve’s club anthem before the game while his body language painted the picture of a player whose mind was elsewhere.
FootballTransfers understands that a transfer in January is now very likely and that Gasperini is happy to let Gomez leave as he feels he has more than enough attacking talent in his squad to replace him.
AC Milan, Inter and Paris Saint-Germain are all monitoring developments and considering a January bid for one of the best players in Serie A. Papu also has had enquiries from clubs based in the Middle East and United States.
Gomez joined Atalanta in 2014 and has proved pivotal in taking the provincial club to back-to-back Champions League knockout appearances.
