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Atalanta have opened contacts for Lazio defender Alessio Romagnoli as Berat Djimsiti nears a move to Saudi side Al-Diriyah.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Berat Djimsiti\u2019s decade in Bergamo is over. The Atalanta captain has agreed terms with Saudi Pro League side Al-Diriyah, signing a contract through June 2028.<\/strong><\/p>\n The move is reported to be worth around \u20ac3m, with an official Atalanta statement expected to confirm what the player and his new club have already announced.<\/p>\n It closes a chapter for a defender who made 334 appearances for the club, good for fourth on Atalanta\u2019s all-time list.<\/p>\n With Djimsiti\u2019s exit now effectively sealed, attention has turned firmly to who replaces him.<\/p>\n Alessio Romagnoli has emerged as one of the leading names on Atalanta\u2019s shortlist, and the approach carries personal weight.<\/p>\n Maurizio Sarri, who coached Romagnoli during his time at Lazio, has reportedly contacted the defender directly to ask him to join him in Bergamo.<\/p>\n That direct involvement from the head coach sets Romagnoli apart from a straightforward transfer inquiry.<\/p>\n It also comes at a moment when his situation at Lazio has become increasingly complicated.<\/p>\n Romagnoli had an agreement in place with Qatari club Al-Sadd, worth a reported three-year deal at \u20ac6m per season.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Al-Sadd had been ready to pay Lazio the \u20ac3m needed to release Romagnoli, but the restrictions have left that payment in limbo.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Romagnoli is not the only name on Atalanta\u2019s list.<\/p>\n Udinese\u2019s Thomas Kristensen, a 24-year-old Danish centre-back valued at around \u20ac18m, has also been strongly linked, with some reports placing him ahead of Romagnoli in Atalanta\u2019s thinking.<\/p>\n West Ham\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n No formal approach for Todibo has been made at this stage.<\/p>\n Djimsiti\u2019s departure leaves a real gap, both on the pitch and in the dressing room, given his role as captain.<\/p>\n Sarri is working to shift Atalanta toward a back four, which shapes exactly what kind of centre-back profile the club needs.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nSarri Personally Calls Romagnoli To Atalanta<\/h2>\n
Why Romagnoli\u2019s Al-Sadd Move Stalled<\/h2>\n
Kristensen And Todibo Remain Alternatives For Atalanta<\/h2>\n
Where Atalanta\u2019s Defensive Rebuild Stands<\/h2>\n