Atalanta to take up Pašalić buy-option, this time maybe even for real! — report

The world of football (media) is full of repetition, silliness, sensationalism, and a fair bit of nonsense as well — especially as most of those who slop it on your plate assume that you (yes, YOU) have the memory of a goldfish and the common sense of a lemming.

But sometimes things do repeat without any nefarious or click-baiting intent. This is one of those cases.

Serie A side Atalanta are “set to take up” their €15m buy-option on Mario Pašalić this season, reports Gazzetta dello Sport (via Inside Futbol), signing the Chelsea loanee on a permanent basis at long last.

Of course, Atalanta were set to do so last summer as well, but ended up convincing Chelsea to allow them to extend the loan for a second season instead, and with the same buyout as before. Well aren’t we just generous to a fault!

That said, Pašalić has been enjoying his time in picturesque Bergamo since first arriving in 2018, so as long as Atalanta eventually do pay up, we can all go home happy.

The recently turned 25-year-old Croatian international, who’s spent all six of his years on Chelsea’s books out on loan, was instrumental in Atalanta qualifying for the Champions League last season. They look on course to repeat that trick once again this season, sitting fourth as the best of the rest after the three title-contenders, Juventus, Inter, and Lazio. He’s chipped in with 6 goals and 3 assists in 28 appearances in all competitions.