The comments by Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi on the hiring of Raffaele Palladino after the dismissal of Ivan Jurić, as featured in the Gazzetta dello Sport interview, focus primarily on Palladino’s belief in the current squad and his long-held patience for the opportunity.
Percassi revealed the “main spark” that led to the decision: Palladino’s initial discussions with the club. Percassi stated that the core reason for his selection was his “great conviction on the value of our squad.” This belief in the existing roster was a critical factor for the management.
Furthermore, Percassi implied that Palladino was the right coach at the right time because of his patience and loyalty to the idea of managing Atalanta. The CEO remarked: “In his heart, I believe he continued to hope for this chance and waited for Atalanta. Because he could have gone elsewhere.”
Finally, the CEO expressed general confidence in the new manager, noting that the choice was also based on maintaining a certain tactical identity: “Confidence in this group and in the coach, who is young and promising.”
While Palladino’s philosophy maintains the necessary continuity in the club’s footballing creed, his deep-seated desire for the role was a defining element in his appointment.
Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN
