Mateo Retegui is set to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah after Atalanta accepted a massive offer for the Serie A top scorer.
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Atalanta to receive €68m from Al-QadsiahRetegui set to earn up to €80m across a four-year dealBergamo club to review internal attacking options Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
According to , Atalanta have agreed to sell the Italy international to Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah for a fee of €68 million (£57m/$73m). Final documents are pending, but only minor payment terms and bonuses remain to be resolved. The deal is expected to be finalised within days, with Retegui set to sign a four-year contract worth €16m (£14m/$17m) annually plus €4m in bonuses, potentially reaching €80m (£68m/$86m) in total over the duration of the deal.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
The transfer marks a significant windfall for Atalanta, who had acquired Retegui, who scored 28-goals in Serie A last season, on a much lower salary and had no immediate plans to sell him. However, the financial magnitude of the Saudi offer, coupled with the player’s insistence on leaving, made the sale inevitable. Al-Qadsiah ramped up their offer significantly in recent days, pushing past initial bids to meet Atalanta’s valuation. Retegui becomes the second-highest-paid Italian player after Marco Verratti, who earns €30m per year in Qatar.
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The €68m transfer fee makes this one of Atalanta’s largest sales in club history, trailing only Rasmus Hojlund’s move to Manchester United in 2023. The club also benefit from a 5 per cent solidarity payment mechanism under FIFA rules, with €3.5m going to clubs involved in Retegui’s development.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ATALANTA?
Atalanta are not expected to immediately reinvest the transfer fee in a direct replacement. Internal options such as Gianluca Scamacca, Mohamed Toure, and Charles De Ketelaere will be assessed during pre-season. Other external targets like Rodrigo Muniz of Fulham and Lyon's Georges Mikautadze remain on the watchlist for future moves.
