Title: Teun Koopmeiners Skips Training Amid Transfer Speculation
Atalanta’s midfielder Teun Koopmeiners has been absent from training sessions, reportedly in an attempt to secure a transfer, according to his coach Gian Piero Gasperini. This development has sparked rumors of a potential £45 million move away from the Serie A club.
Despite strong interest from Liverpool, it appears that Juventus is leading the race to sign the Dutch international. Gasperini expressed his frustration, stating that Koopmeiners has already reached an agreement with Juventus, leaving Atalanta feeling “blackmailed.”
“The situation with him was going very well until last week, then the player decided to go to Juventus,” Gasperini told L’Eco di Bergamo. “He already has an agreement, he feels stressed and has decided not to play or train with us anymore.”
Atalanta has taken a firm stance against Koopmeiners’ decision to skip training, with Gasperini emphasizing the negative impact on the team’s preparations for the upcoming season.
“With this attitude, he cannot be useful to the team, nor to his teammates. The club therefore has taken a very firm line because we feel blackmailed by this situation. It’s different from the other times in which Atalanta has sold valuable players to bigger teams,” Gasperini added.
“I’m already ready [for the new season], on the starting blocks, and I wouldn’t want to have to drag along those who are still celebrating last season. We are now in a much more difficult situation than we could have foreseen.”
In the midst of Koopmeiners’ potential move to Juventus, Liverpool is reportedly exploring other options for a new midfielder, with Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi being a potential target. Liverpool is looking to strengthen their squad ahead of the new Premier League season.
