Following his first season in Italy, AC Milan loaned Charles De Ketelaere to Atalanta, giving them the option to buy at the end of the deal, and for most of the season, they have been expected to use it. However, a report has claimed that the attacker returning to the Rossoneri may not be out of the question.
In 34 games this season, the Belgian has an incredible record – 10 goals and seven assists. However, La Dea are having doubts about whether it is worth activating the buy option in his contract, according to a report from Calciomercato.com.
The deal would cost €22 million upfront, plus €4m worth of bonuses, and there are doubts about whether he is capable of fully establishing himself. Whilst he has shown signs this season, he has not shown them consistently enough for the club to be completely sold on the idea of a purchase.
Therefore, if La Dea do not activate their buy clause, he could return to Milan. Perhaps, as a second striker, maybe even as a link-up striker. However, there is a chance at redemption, which the Rossoneri could utilise.
Olivier Giroud looks set to depart, Noah Okafor is still a deputy, and Luka Jovic has not assured the management that he can be the starting striker. So, potentially, De Ketelaere could be given the chance to redeem himself, filled with the confidence brought during his season in Bergamo.
If he returns then maybe he can be used as a false 9; probably a playmaking CF. I remember loaning them Caldara amd hoping they’d redeem him but they didn’t and the way I see CdK this time, he’s kinda playing like he did at Milan perhaps due to the pressure to perform. Honestly I don’t really know… If he comes back, I hope Pioli can somehow find what works for him.
I would gladly give him another chance with us but i really question this report because atalanta might not qualigy for cl which will bring them a lot less cash and they can most likely just buy cdk and then immediately sell him at a profit which then could help their finances. It simply doesnt make any sense to miss out on such opportunity even if they doesnt intend to keep him.
“they can most likely just buy cdk and then immediately sell him at a profit”
What do you mean by that?
Do you think they can immediately sell him for more than 26 million €???
Who will buy him for that money?
with a combined 17 goals/assits ratio this season in 2035 minutes played equating to 22.6 full matches played i certainly do believe that its a great possibility. I would also add that the fee is 23 mil + bonuses. Bonuses are set up with parametres to be reached so there is no guarantee that they will already be met. Im pretty confident that they would be able to sell at a profit to an epl team. Arsenal has been rumored to be interested in him and other teams as well but i cant remember those clubs names though at present.
They’ll keep hold of him and try to get another successful season or two before selling him. Do I think he’s a fit for Milan? Absolutely not. And I don’t think he could compete against the players we have now.
You do have a point that Atalanta may be in some trouble if they miss the EL. They certainly are out of contention for the CL unless something spectacular happens (I don’t see Bologna faltering).
That being said there is a marginal chance they may not redeem him if they miss the EL (depends on Roma’s form). Even qualifying for the EL has a financial windfall.
I do also think that they will keep him but im also just pointing out that they probably could make some money even they wasnt planning on keeping him.
I think he might be able to carve out a place but that would also depend on positioning and potential new coach but i do agree though that its probably in his own interest to stay with atalanta as his minutes with us probably would be limited due to our upgrades in the summer.
Yeah there is always a chance but it would seem illogical from my point of view.
I strongly doubt we’ll keep him, though if we do, that means that both the player and Pioli believe this would work which is a very good sign.
The only positions I see for CDK are as a Jovic replacement (in case we don’t renew Jovic) and as competition for RLC … mayyybee as a sub on the wing as well.
In theory, imo he should be a mixture between Pulisic and RLC, but so far hasn’t been good or consistent enough to be either. Maybe Thiago Motta would make him a new Zirkzee 😀 ?
Pure speculation. Atalanta will not give up a chance for a fat payday. They know they can get the best out of CDK and dump him to the PL for a nice chunk of change.
The chunk of change is based on a total amount paid for CDK in the range of 30m to 35m.
It is by no means certain that Atalanta can realise anything like the sum that would justify the risk of the investment if it wants to buy to sell (based on the model it operates). CDK is playing football at a value of 20m to 30m at its absolute limit. He’s a second striker which rules out a big money transfers to the EPL powerhouse sides because no one plays with 2 strikers. Can he become exponentially better as a lone 9, an AM or a winger that would see someone pay 50-60m? There is a lot of water to pass under that bridge.
Genuine question (not aggressive rhetorical) what sort of return do you think Atalanta looks for? I’d say doubling its money would be the starting point. We know Atalanta spent 20m on Hojlund. Once we saw him get used to the league doubling that money was never really in doubt on the syle of player he is alone (i.e. blisteringly quick 6’3 striker). Atalanta would not have sold at the point it did if the money wasn’t twice the market value (which is something Man Utd only paid because Hojlund is such a rare and perfect combination of attributes that would justify the more speculative investment).
Atalanta has 29m tied up with El Bilal Toure, a very similar player to Hojlund whose first season has been stalled by injury. It has also spent 20-25m on Scamacca who has a goal contribution every 84 minutes he starts. He and Gasperini seem to have sorted out their issues.
I think they can be happy with CDK as a player (see the recent comments from the ownership), because he has been an effective part of the team, and, at the same time, also not really be looking to buy him.
I suspect they probably err on the side of using the money to buy 2 more 10-15m players they can sell for $30-40m.
If they buy CDK I think it’s because he becomes the next Pasalic, De Roon, DJmisiti or Toloi, which is a good quality pro who plays the best part of his career with Atalanta. Maybe there is a place for that, particularly if they get a Koopmeiners and/or Scalvini shaped pay day.
I’ve been advocating for Scamacca as our solution at ST, given Atalanta’s glut in attack (CDK, Lookman, Toure, Scamacca, Miranchuck) and the very real chance they don’t qualify for Europe at all. If we offered the balance owed for CDK plus 5M to sweeten the deal for Scamacca it could work for everybody. It would mean that any future sale of CDK for even 30M would bring in a big profit for Atalanta because they technically did not spend cash for him, and Scamacca becomes our No. 9 for an outlay the equivalent of ~27M (CDK balance plus 5), instead of the 50-60M extortion we’d have to pay Bologna for Zirkzee. Then we’ll have enough cash to get that CB or DM, without having to make a big sale. Everyone wins.
Agreed but it won’t happen. Scamacca is Zirkzee with a killer shot.
As I said above, when he starts games, he has started 15 to date, he has scored 10 goals with 2 assists which equates to a contribution every 84 minutes played (because he’s only playing an average 66 minutes in the total of just over 1,000 minutes started). Zirkzee contributes at almost twice that rate (with similar output in more than twice the game time (as he starts every game).
Scamacca did start 2024 like a busted sphincter but that was uncharacteristic of everything else he has done this season. It was a combination of a lack of fitness, returning from injury, and Gasperini using his advanced interrogation techniqus.
Gasperini does this, he won’t just accept good play he demands devotion. Italy piles on because that’s what Italy does.
He’s not coming back here. He’s not a fit for this team and he would not be able to compete against the players we currently have.
Atalanta will get money from CL if they can finish rank 4 or 5th . They will that money to activate buy option for CDK . CDK not suit to play in 4231 or 433 pioli system . With pioli still the coach next season , it is better CDK not return to ACM
Can you predict the future?
How many players who weren’t ‘fit for this team’ turned out to be ‘fit to play for our immediate rivals including Inter’?
CDK is one of the greatest footballers on the planet (by virtue of the fact he plays for Atalanta who are one of the best teams in one of the best leagues).
If Milan cannot get one of the greatest footballers on the planet to perform like he is in fact one of the greatest footballers on the planet, then there’s something wrong.
We can’t just keep chucking out elite footballers like they’re some old t-shirts.
Oh stop with the “facts”. Yes, we know he’s a professional footballer. The problem is that he’s playing against 11 other “best footballers in the world”. You’re talking like he’s alone in his world class abilities, playing against chumps.
He’s not a competitor, and I don’t think players can really learn that. Will he still be a good pro? Possibly.. but the thing is, everyone is just speculating because that’s literally all they can do – try to predict the future. And I’m not sure very many people would bet on him figuring things out and becoming what we thought / hoped he would be when he arrived in Italy.
I’m not saying it’s impossible, but would you bet on him becoming a top-tier pro?
Exactly.
He’s playing against “11 other best footballers in the world” and the gap between these players is not as great as people imagine or computer games make out.
So all of these ratings and writing off players is just nonsense.
Most title winning sides were made up of a mix of pretty average players and some greats. And the thing that made them title winning sides was that they made pretty average players play like world beaters.
That is the measure of a successful side. Not the Messi’s, the Puyol’s.
When Milan were a great side we could play the likes of a 40 year old Costacurta left back, Serginho LB, LM and Striker, we could swap Pirlo with Ambrosini, play Brocchi, and sign players like Tomasson and they wouldn’t be terrible.
And as Milan started to lose their magic, their winning mentality, it didn’t matter if we signed Ronaldo or Ronaldinho, we couldn’t compete.
There are just so many examples of teams going from top to bottom overnight:
– Napoli from Scudetto winners to 8th;
– Chelsea from 1st to 10th to 1st to 5th in four seasons;
– Man Utd 1st to 7th the year Ferguson retired;
– Juve 7th to an unbeaten first.
And this was mostly taking existing players and making them play better or worse.
Sure players, and more importantly managers, were added or lost , but these teams saw drastic changes in form with minimal changes.
Milan from mid-table to title winning form simply by signing Kjaer and Ibra, and having time together over Covid.
Milan suddenly losing that title winning form after the World Cup break.
What we need to recognise is that the difference between success and failure is a razor’s edge.
CDK obviously showed some incredible potential scoring goals for Brugge in the Champions League. He arrived at Milan and didn’t meet that potential.
That is a tragedy.
That should be the subject of an investigation.
That probably should have got Pioli sacked.
Clubs, fans, the world should not keep accepting that extremely talented players will fail.
Sure some might not have the right attitude, but not on the scale we are seeing today.
And the people who talk about ‘handling the pressure’ seem to be the same people who accept so much player turnover that it’s hard to imagine how anyone could even learn to ‘handle the pressure’.
The whole thing is just amateur.
“CDK is one of the greatest footballers on the planet”
We just go around throwing words and using words without context to the values and meaning of the words.
“Greatest” really?
Is CDK even among the greatest players in Lombardy?
“Is CDK even among the greatest players in Lombardy?”
That’s easy. Nope. No, he’s not.
“CDK is one of the greatest footballers on the planet”
Sure, if you count every professional player in the world. But the thing is… No one is comparing CDK to amateurs. And no one should either. So, let’s keep the scope sane and not go into the “he’s one of the 0.0000000001%” and a GOAT. Ridiculous.
Count every pro player as the greatest footballers that is.
If we took him back he solves multiple positions from AM, RW, LW and CF.
I presume that’s why we signed him.
It’s up to the club and manager to get the most out the players, and if a club and manager cannot get a player like CDK to perform then that’s on them.
There are far too many top level footballers being written off these days.
We signed him for AM but Diaz ate his lunch and Loftus would probably do the same.
What does that even mean?
It’s up to the club to get the most out of the player.
Why do so many fans gloat when extremely talented (and expensive) players fail?
Is this like people who support the Royal family so they can gossip about them?
(Another extremely expensive source of gossip)
It’s not always the fault of the club that a player fails with them, some players function well in some systems and not in others, plus the stress, the weight of the shirt,….
The FACT with De Ketelaere is that he succeeded as a second striker in a 2 strikers system, we don’t play like that. There is 0 garantees that he will succeed as a CF, let alone AM, LW, RW.
And De Ketelaere needs a lot of playing time to do well, against whom do you think he can start ? Leao ? Pulisic ? Loftus-Cheek ? All of them scored at least as much as him. The only position that might be vacated is the CF, but that’s a lone CF.
This. There should be nothing further said than this. CDK won’t supplant Leao, RLC or Pulisic. The only role left for him to occupy in our system is CF. He can’t do it in Italy. He has no physical presence and barely an aerial game. No way he can fill Giroud’s boots. Whatever CDK ultimately turns out to be, he doesn’t fit with us.
Sh*talanata
Yes, CDK can replace Giroud. A Lone striker in 3 forward tactic. His role might be like Firminho in Liverpool’s SFM trio, org Benzema in Real Madrid’s BBC.
I hope we Will see PDL trio in AC Milan attack : Pulisic, De Ketelaere, Leao.
In mid : Reijnders as Regista, RLC & Bennacer as Dynamic MC.
I’m quite certain if Atalanta don’t reedem him, Milan can sell him elswhere, probably to some PL club. They are already keeping tabs on him after good showing this season. Problem is the losing of time for other targets they could get with his money.
He strikes me as a player that would excel in Spain, but I don’t see any Spanish sides that are in need of a player like him and would appeal to him. Maybe Sociedad if they qualify for the CL. He might also do well in the Bundesliga.
He cant play at San Siro. The stage is too big for him.