Gian Piero Gasperini announces impending departure from Atalanta as Roma move looms large

Gian Piero Gasperini announced on Saturday his intention to depart Atalanta following nine immensely successful years as he is widely expected to take the helm at rival club Roma.

The 67-year-old leaves after transforming the Bergamo outfit from an underdog club overshadowed by the neighbouring Milan giants into one of the top teams in Italy, even clinching the Europa League title last year.

“In recent hours, I have made the decision to conclude a fantastic nine-year journey… I am stepping away from my position as head coach of Atalanta,” Gasperini stated in an open letter to L’Eco di Bergamo.

“I have chosen to end my association with the club, and I want to clarify that no blame should be directed at the club or its management. I have simply realised that the moment has come for me to move on.”

This past season, Atalanta finished third in Serie A and secured Champions League qualifications well before the end of the season, despite a valiant effort to win the club’s first league title.

Gasperini is poised to join Roma on a three-year deal, reportedly earning a net salary of five million euros (£4.2 million) per season as the capital side aim to restore their place in Serie A’s top four.

Roma last made it to the Champions League in 2017 and narrowly missed out on European competition this year, falling short on the final day of the season after a strong late push under local favourite Claudio Ranieri.

Ranieri stepped back into management in November to help Roma avoid relegation threats, ultimately guiding them to a fifth-place finish and a spot in the Europa League.

As one of Italy’s most storied clubs with a fervent following, Roma has only won the Serie A title three times, with the last triumph occurring in 2001.

They have recently been overtaken by arch-rivals Napoli, whose recent league win brought their total to four titles, including two within the last three seasons.

Gasperini has earned a reputation for being fiery, often clashing with the media, and he will now face the challenge of managing a passionate fanbase and a highly demanding press environment in the Italian capital.

Roma boasts numerous radio stations, websites, and even a dedicated daily newspaper, which have been known to create tense situations with previous coaches, amplifying the pressure when results are less than stellar.

He opted for Roma instead of Juventus, who had sought to lure him to Turin after missing out on securing club legend Antonio Conte from Napoli.

Juve now find themselves in a challenging situation, as current coach Igor Tudor was only meant to serve as a temporary solution until the end of the season, stepping in for the dismissed Thiago Motta in March.