A burning exoneration and an opportunity not to be missed: Thiago Motta is ready to start again. And this seems the perfect place to do it
Thiago Motta riparte subito dalla provincia: è perfetto per questa squadra (Foto: LaPresse/Ansa) – serieanews.com
Some burns are not quickly forgotten. And if we are talking about the exoneration from Juventus, perhaps they are not forgotten at all. Especially if you are Thiago Motta, a coach who until yesterday seemed destined to lead La Signora into a new era.
Instead, it was all over in a matter of weeks, and the Juventus bench, which seemed tailor-made for him, turned into a nightmare and then a bitter memory. Yet those who know Motta know that he is not the type to sit still and lick his wounds.
Indeed, he is a fast riser, perhaps with a few more scars, but with his usual determined look. That is why it is not surprising that his name is already bouncing around the desks of ambitious clubs. The next chapter in his career could be written in Bergamo, on that Atalanta bench that may soon be vacant.
Some say it would be a step backward. But then, looking at the numbers, it is by no means a foregone conclusion. Atalanta in recent years has traveled consistently in Europe, had the luxury of playing in a Europa League final and winning the 2024 Coppa Italia. Not exactly a team to be called “provincial.”
Besides, let’s face it, picking up Gian Piero Gasperini’s legacy is the stuff of strong hearts. The Piedmontese coach built a small masterpiece in Bergamo, but after eight years he seems ready to leave. Several suitors are already at the window: Roma and Juventus above all.
And if indeed Gasp were to pack his bags, Atalanta will have to decide very carefully on the profile to be entrusted with the next cycle. A choice not to be mistaken because it could also be lethal for the long-term project of the Bergamo club, so far an example of more than virtuous management of the club.
Thiago Motta all’Atalanta: una scelta perfetta per entrambe le parti
It is no mystery that Atalanta has been sounding out other names. There has been talk of Raffaele Palladino, who is far from certain of reappointment in Florence, and a suggestive return of Maurizio Sarri to Serie A. Paolo Vanoli of Torino would also be an intriguing choice, but even then it could be a leap of faith. In short: suggestions rather than certainties.
Thiago Motta all’Atalanta: una scelta perfetta per entrambe le parti (AnsaFoto) – serieanews.com
In this scenario, Thiago Motta is the perfect identikit: young, with clear ideas and a soccer that makes players grow. At Bologna, in just two seasons, he transformed a mid-table team into a Champions League lineup, enhancing profiles such as Zirkzee, Ferguson, and Calafiori, all of whom rose through the ranks under his guidance.
Those who know Motta’s soccer know that he is not a fundamentalist. He knows how to adapt, but he starts with a simple concept: the ball is held, not chased. An idea that marks a break with Gasperini’s hyperaggressive system. That is why talking about a tactical revolution is not exaggerated.
With Thiago Motta, Atalanta could veer toward a more fluid form, perhaps a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3, where building from the bottom becomes a priority and defenders must have polite feet as well as timing. Therefore, some choices in the market will be inevitable.
Players like Ederson and Lookman, already coveted by half the Premier League, are likely to be sacrificed to finance a new cycle. But the Orobic club has shown that it knows how to reinvest well and judiciously. And if Motta really arrives, it will be necessary to find functional interpreters for his idea.
Juventus have replaced Thiago Motta with Igor Tudor as head coach.
Tudor won five trophies with Juve as a player ⚫⚪ pic.twitter.com/uIsOCnUndc
– B/R Football (@brfootball) March 23, 2025
In the end, soccer is about cycles that open and close. For Atalanta, Gasperini’s closes (perhaps) and a new one opens. And for Thiago Motta, there is a chance to start again without too many frills, in a reality that has shown it can grow quietly and without proclamations.
This article Thiago Motta starts right away from the province: he’s perfect for this team appeared first on SerieANews.
