Atalanta are one of Europe’s best run clubs, but how do they do it and could they win Serie A?

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Currently 1st in the table 

©TM/IMAGO

Last season just one team managed to beat Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen in all competitions – Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta. And it was on the big occasion. The Italian side run riot in Dublin, beating their German counterparts 3-0 to win the Europa League title – the club’s first ever European trophy. That triumph typified the progress that Atalanta have made since Gasperini took over in 2016. They have consistently punched above their weight and don’t look like stopping anytime soon. Prior to his appointment the highest Atalanta had ever finished in Serie A was 5th, and that was in 1948. Since then, they have finished in the top four five times, and this season they could be set to achieve something even bigger.

Now 16 games into the new season, Gasperini’s side lead the Serie A table. Only Inter Milan (40) have scored more than their 39. Considering Atalanta are doing all of this on a shoe-string budget compared to the European elite, it’s truly remarkable what is going on in Bergamo. Just qualifying for the Champions League in itself is an achievement for a club with Atalanta’s resources – they’ve now done that four times under Gasperini, and are looking more than likely to achieve a place in the round of 32 play-off, if not a top eight finish that would see them straight into the round of 16 in this season’s league phase. If they were to go on and add the Scudetto to their Europa League, it would be one of the great stories of modern football.

How have Atalanta been able to compete with the biggest teams in Italy

When we look at how Atalanta have been able to rub shoulders with the elite over the past five or so years, it certainly isn’t through sheer spending. As illustrated in the graphic below, if we compare their transfer balance since Gasperini took charge in 2016/17 to the other eight clubs currently presiding in the top eight of Serie A, its even more fascinating what Atalanta have achieved. In that timeframe they have a transfer balance (Transfer spending on players – transfer sales accumulated) of +€173.6 million. The only other side with a positive balance is fourth-placed Fiorentina with +€14.7m. At the other end of the scale, Inter Milan’s is -€266.6m, Napoli’s is -€296.8m, Juventus’ is -€473.9m, and AC Milan’s is an incredible -€561.8m. Atalanta are currently above all of them in the league.

So how have Atalanta been able to achieve all this without breaking the bank? Jatin Dietl is Transfermarkt’s Area Manager in Italy and has been covering Serie A for a number of years. He reveals some of the secrets behind their success: “They have a very good youth system, one of the best in Italy and one of the best scouting set ups in the entire world. And most of all they’ve been playing a similar style of football for years now, so their scouts and sports director know exactly what kind of characteristics a player has to have for being able to perform at Bergamo.” Indeed Gasperini is the fourth longest serving manager in Europe’s top-five leagues. Stability has been key to their achievements.

“Also, there is a calm ambience and not a lot of pressure which helps the player to grow and evolve in peace.” Dietl added. “That’s why they’re never solely dependent on one player and can usually replace key departures with relative ease, like they did recently with Teun Koopmeiners (who left for Juventus for €54.7m). So can Atalanta’s model really lead to them winning Serie A this season; Dietl isn’t ruling it out: “Of course they have a chance, even though when you look at the roster, Inter’s squad is still on a different level. The season is long, and Atalanta’s squad is well-built and deep. However, what often happens with Gasperini’s team is that as long as the squad is physically at its peak, they can outperform almost anyone. But when that physical form declines, they lose a lot of quality. So, in short, yes, they could, but despite their current over-performance, it would still be a surprise.”

Before joining Atalanta in 2016, Gasperini had mixed success in Italy. He got Genoa promoted from Serie B and finished fifth in Serie A in the 2008/09 season, but was sacked a year later. He managed just three months at Inter Milan before being relieved of his duties in 2011. He also didn’t last long at Palermo, but at Atalanta he has found a club perfectly suited to his maverick style. “Gasperini is a very distinctive character.” Dietl explained. “Under the right circumstances and with exactly the right players, he’s one of the best in the world, but that works at Atalanta. At other, bigger clubs with more pressure and different conditions, it becomes much more difficult, which his failed experience at Inter shows. He’s not exactly known for his flexibility.” Sometimes it’s difficult to find the right match between a manager and a club to create stability and success – Atalanta and Gasperini have found it and it’s essentially led to miracles.

Former Premier League star Ademola Lookman a man reborn

One of the many reasons Atalanta have been so impressive this season has been due to the form of winger Ademola Lookman. The Nigerian winger came through as an exciting prospect at Charlton Athletic, but failed to light up the Premier League with both Everton and Fulham. He is perhaps most remembered for his time in the English top-flight for a penalty blunder in which an attempted ‘Panenka’ badly backfired. In Italy, he is now delivering the potential he showed in England. Lookman scored a hat-trick in the Europa League final last May, and already has 11 goals and five assists this season. In Wednesday’s Serie A market value update, his value rose by +€15m to seal a new value of €55m.

Dietl explains more about how Atalanta have got the best out of Lookman: “Well that’s kind of down to the superpower of Gasperini, if you are able to convince him and to prove your self to be able to run in his system, then it is very likely that you’ll get the most out of your abilities.” Lookman is now one of the most sought-after wingers in world football and has been linked with a number of top European clubs, including Arsenal. But right now, why would he want to leave the over-achieving Atalanta.