Pioli responds to question on De Ketelaere’s Atalanta resurgence: 'He certainly suffered'

Stefano Pioli has spoken about why Charles De Ketelaere seems to be doing a lot better with Atalanta compared to his one season at AC Milan, suggesting that his role plays a big part.

The decision was made to send De Ketelaere out on loan to Atalanta last summer to try restore his confidence, and it has worked. He has racked up 11 goals and nine assists in 44 games so far, leading to suggestions he will join La Dea permanently.

Percassi spoke after Atalanta’s Europa League win over Marseille last night and he was asked about the idea of signing De Ketelaere on permanent deal. His response was clear: “We will make it happen.”

Fabrizio Romano reported that Atalanta have a €23m option to buy clause plus €4m add-ons and 10% sell-on clause for Milan.

Pioli spoke to reporters present at Milanello on the eve of the game for his pre-match press conference (read in full here) and he was asked a couple of questions about the Belgian.

Atalanta have officially announced that they will buy out De Ketelaere. Is there an explanation for last year’s poor performance and this year’s very positive performance?

“I think there could be two, as far as I can tell. Last year, Charles was in his first season in a different, difficult, very competitive league. He certainly suffered from this. So this year he found himself with a superior experience, in a role that is probably more suited to his characteristics.”

Had you never thought about changing his role?

“No because we had other plans.”