Atletico Madrid draws Young Italian Left Back Matteo Ruggeri from Atalanta


Atletico Madrid signed Italian left back Matteo Ruggeri from Atalanta on Tuesday. The 22-year-old defender will arrive at a five-year contract, said Atletico.

Financial details of the transfer were not immediately announced.

Ruggeri came through the youth system of Atalanta and made his first team debut as an 18-year-old in a Champions League match against Liverpool in 2020.

Atletico said that Ruggeri is left back «with a good cross and great endurance.»

He spent the 2021-22 season on loan in Salernitana and returned to Atalanta the following season to settle as an important piece for coach Gian Piero Gasperini.

Ruggeri was admitted to UEFA’s Europa League team of the season in 2023-24.

He was internationally at all youth levels for Italy and was called for the senior team in March for the quarterfinals of the Nations League against Germany.

Atletico has already separated with three defensive players from last season: Reinildo, Axel Witsel and Cesar Azpilicueta.

The Diego Simeone team was eliminated in the group stage of the Club World Cup that is being played in the United States. It finished third in the Spanish competition, behind Real Madrid and champion Barcelona.



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