Mateo Retegui, the number 1 striker Serie A last season, officially joined Al-Qadsiah to replace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, marking another cult deal of Saudi Arabia football.
Serie A Mateo Retegui top scorer arrived in Saudi Arabia
After only a sublime season in Atalanta, Mateo Retegui said goodbye Serie A to sign a 4-year contract with Al-Qadsiah. As revealed by Calciomercato, Atalanta earned a total of 80 million euros, of which 65 million euros were a fixed transfer fee. Meanwhile, the Italian striker will receive a huge salary of up to 20 million euros per season, on par with the top stars in Saudi Pro League.
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| Serie A Mateo Retegui top scorer arrived in Saudi Arabia |
Joining Atalanta from Genoa last summer so that Gianluca Scamacca was injured, Retegui quickly exploded under the guidance of Gian Piero Gasperini coach. With 25 goals after 36 appearances, he not only won the title of top scorer but also became the inspiration in the journey to win tickets to the Champions League of the Bergamo team.
It was not surprising that al-Qadsiah targeted Retegui as a center for competitive ambitions both in the domestic league and the continental arena. The striker born in 1999 possesses a respectable form, scored in 8 consecutive matches in Serie A season 2024/25, a testament to the killer instinct at the penalty area.
With this deal, Retegui officially became the most expensive Italian player in history. Meanwhile, Atalanta benefits dual benefits: gaining a huge financial account and having more room to invest in a promising youth center or upgrading other positions in the squad.