De Ketelaere with Milan vs with Atalanta(©Reuters/Daniele Mascolo/Gallo Images)
De Ketelaere with Milan vs with Atalanta(©Reuters/Daniele Mascolo/Gallo Images)

AC Milan against the weapon they didn't know how to use

Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 06.12.24. | 20:13

Ever since De Ketelaere moved to Atalanta from San Siro, he revived his career, and tonight, he'll have a chance to show his former side what they lost. But was it all just Milan's fault?

Sometimes, it's just not meant to be. Kaka won a Ballon d'Or representing AC Milan but fell short at Real Madrid, Fernando Torres was a beast at Liverpool, but just a shadow of his former self at Chelsea, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was unsettled with Barcelona before becoming a Paris Saint-Germain legend, and the list goes on and on. The same goes for Charles De Ketelaere, who'll be under a special spotlight during the clash of his current and former clubs - Atalanta and AC Milan.

On one side, the Rossoneri will have a chance to see for themselves what kind of player they easily lost since De Keteleare revived his stagnating career once he left San Siro and joined Gian Piero Gasperini's crew in Bergamo. On the other hand, even the Belgian has to be aware that it wasn't all up to AC Milan, his teammates or then-manager Stefano Pioli. De Ketelaere himself was far from the required level.

During his one-season spell at San Siro, the 23-year-old made 40 appearances, even though mostly coming on from the bench, spent almost 1,500 minutes on the pitch, and recorded only a single assist without finding the rivals' net at least once?! Conversely - as if he was the other player altogether - in his first season with Atalanta, De Ketelaere noted 14 goals and 11 assists in 50 matches, winning the UEFA Europa League.

The same trend continued in the current campaign - after the Goddess bought him out from the Rossoneri for €22 million - as he has four goals and nine assists by his name at the moment.

Given that Atalanta are serious title contenders and Milan want to become one, tonight's clash (22.45) won't be about past times and failed romance between the Belgian and the San Siro club. It was toxic and gave no results, and hopefully both De Ketelaere and his former team can be happy for one another. Because sometimes it's just not meant to be...

SERIE A - MATCHDAY 15

Friday

20.30: (1.20) Inter (7.25) Parma (12.0)

22.45: (2.15) Atalanta (3.50) Milan (3.60)

Saturday

17.00: (2.50) Genoa (3.20) Torino (3.20)

20.00: (1.75) Juventus (3.60) Bologna (5.60)

22.45: (1.60) Roma (3.90) Lecce (7.00)

Sunday

14.30: (1.52) Fiorentina (4.20) Cagliari (6.25)

17.00: (2.60) Verona (3.15) Empoli (3.10)

20.00: (2.85) Venezia (3.30) Como (2.70)

22.45: (1.90) Napoli (3.60) Lazio (4.50)

Monday

22.45: (2.70) Monza (3.00) Udinese (2.90)

***odds are subject to change***



tags

Charles De KetelaereAC MilanAtalanta

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