GASPERINI TO CONTINUE ATALANTA DREAM DESPITE NAPOLI AND JUVENTUS LINKS

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Atalanta and Gian Piero Gasperini are expected to continue their relationship past this season despite interest from Napoli and Juventus. La Dea and the 62-year-old have enjoyed great success since the tactician took over in 2016, qualifying for Europe in three consecutive seasons – the latest of which saw the club make its first appearance in the Champions League. Although the current season has been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, Atalanta were enjoying yet another sparkling campaign, sitting three points up on Roma for third to go along with a place in the Champions League quarter-finals. It’s no surprise then that Napoli contacted Gasperini last May according to Tuttomercatoweb to see whether the coach would be willing to replace Carlo Ancelotti, who’s relationship with President Aurelio De Laurentiis had already been compromised. Although Gasperini was seen as a perfect fit for the Azzurri, Ancelotti continued on, only to be replaced by Gennaro Gattuso during the season. As a result Napoli’s interest has cooled, leaving Juventus as the only possible landing spot should Maurizio Sarri’s time in Turin end after one season. With that unlikely at the current time, all signs point to Gasperini and Atalanta continuing their dream past this season.Clubs were allowed to re-open their training grounds this week after getting the go-ahead from the government as the nation-wide lockdown was partly relaxed on Monday in Italy's "phase two" protocol. Sassuolo players were the first to get back to training on Monday, with three players and three staff members present at their Mapei Center training ground.

 May 4, 2020 Juventus had a first batch of players undergo tests at their J Medical Center in Turin, including Aaron Ramsey, Juan Cuadrado, Carlo Pinsoglio, Leonardo Bonucci and Federico Bernardeschi. Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to fly back into Italy on Monday and will be tested in the coming days alongside other players returning from abroad such as Matthijs de Ligt and Gonzalo Higuain. Roma also reopened their Trigoria training ground today with Edin Dzeko among the first players to undergo medicals and preparatory tests, which will be completed before the first individual training sessions start on Thursday. Most Serie A sides have now scheduled players' returns to individual training, with Inter Milan, Atalanta and Bologna expecting to reopen their training camps on Tuesday.

Edited May 6, 2020 by -Sn!PeR-
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