Franck Kessié Signs with Atalanta: A New Start in Europe
Despite the disappointment of missing out on the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, Franck Kessié has something to smile about. The promising 18-year-old Ivorian defender, previously with Stella Club d’Adjamé, has taken a major step in his career by signing with Atalanta Bergamo, a Serie A club currently positioned 15th in the Italian league.
Kessié has inked a three-year deal, binding him to the Bergamo-based side until 2018. The move marks his first venture into European football — and an opportunity for redemption after a costly mistake during the CAN 2015 qualifiers against DR Congo, which may have influenced Hervé Renard’s decision not to include him in the final tournament squad.
Now in Italy, Kessié will aim to develop his game further and establish himself on the European stage — a promising beginning for a player many still regard as one of Ivory Coast’s brightest young talents.
