Atalanta Move For Alessio Romagnoli As Berat Djimsiti Completes Al-Diriyah Exit

Berat Djimsiti’s decade in Bergamo is over. The Atalanta captain has agreed terms with Saudi Pro League side Al-Diriyah, signing a contract through June 2028.

The move is reported to be worth around €3m, with an official Atalanta statement expected to confirm what the player and his new club have already announced.

It closes a chapter for a defender who made 334 appearances for the club, good for fourth on Atalanta’s all-time list.

With Djimsiti’s exit now effectively sealed, attention has turned firmly to who replaces him.

Sarri Personally Calls Romagnoli To Atalanta

Alessio Romagnoli has emerged as one of the leading names on Atalanta’s shortlist, and the approach carries personal weight.

Maurizio Sarri, who coached Romagnoli during his time at Lazio, has reportedly contacted the defender directly to ask him to join him in Bergamo.

That direct involvement from the head coach sets Romagnoli apart from a straightforward transfer inquiry.

It also comes at a moment when his situation at Lazio has become increasingly complicated.

Why Romagnoli’s Al-Sadd Move Stalled

Romagnoli had an agreement in place with Qatari club Al-Sadd, worth a reported three-year deal at €6m per season.

That move has stalled, and not over interest or fit. Regional financial restrictions linked to tensions in the Gulf have limited how quickly money can be transferred out of Qatar.

Al-Sadd had been ready to pay Lazio the €3m needed to release Romagnoli, but the restrictions have left that payment in limbo.

With his Lazio contract now under a year from expiring, and his relationship with club president Claudio Lotito reportedly strained, the uncertainty has opened the door for Atalanta.

Kristensen And Todibo Remain Alternatives For Atalanta

Romagnoli is not the only name on Atalanta’s list.

Udinese’s Thomas Kristensen, a 24-year-old Danish centre-back valued at around €18m, has also been strongly linked, with some reports placing him ahead of Romagnoli in Atalanta’s thinking.

West Ham’s Jean-Clair Todibo remains a separate option too. Sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli has long admired the French centre-back, and a loan move is understood to be under evaluation.

No formal approach for Todibo has been made at this stage.

Where Atalanta’s Defensive Rebuild Stands

Djimsiti’s departure leaves a real gap, both on the pitch and in the dressing room, given his role as captain.

Sarri is working to shift Atalanta toward a back four, which shapes exactly what kind of centre-back profile the club needs.

Romagnoli would offer immediate experience. Kristensen represents more of a long-term investment. Todibo sits somewhere between the two, depending on the terms of any loan.

For now, Atalanta have options rather than a settled answer, and the decision is likely to come into focus quickly as the market moves toward its final weeks.