Charles De Ketelaere’s season at Atalanta carries the balance of a player settled in Bergamo but conscious that another level may still await him. Ahead of Belgium’s Nations League meeting with Italy at the Olimpico in Group A1, the 25-year-old revealed that Paris Saint-Germain made contact during the summer.
The coach and the club
De Ketelaere said PSG approached him in the last transfer window, but a deal did not take shape. Atalanta’s valuation was a significant factor, with the Belgian believing the club wanted around €50 million for him.
“I spoke with PSG in the summer; they came for me,” De Ketelaere said. “Atalanta were asking a lot, I think about €50m. You need to find a club able to pay that, as can happen in the Premier League.”
There was no complaint directed at Atalanta. Instead, De Ketelaere made clear that he remains content at the club, where being a regular starter has become central to his development. His difficult spell at Milan taught him the value of a defined place in a side.
“I am happy at Atalanta, and playing regularly matters,” he explained. “I understood that from my time at Milan. The team’s interests come before everything else.”
The former Milan player also reflected on the role that best suits him. He does not believe he can show his finest qualities when he is kept close to the touchline, though he stressed that he is not the kind of player to create unrest over selection or positioning.
At 25, De Ketelaere sees time and opportunity ahead of him. He said he does not want to place pressure on Atalanta, while admitting his ambition is to continue progressing and eventually make another step forward in his career.
For now, the immediate international chapter comes against Italy in Rome, while Atalanta retain a player who has found continuity and importance in their season.
