Franck Kessie’s Serie A comeback could take him back to Atalanta

Franck Kessie’s proposed return to Serie A has taken an unexpected turn, with Atalanta entering the race for the Ivory Coast midfielder after talks involving Juventus and Roma lost momentum.

Kessie has been seeking a move back to Italy since ending his spell with Al-Ahli Saudi, the club where he has played since leaving European football. Juventus and Roma had appeared to be the leading contenders for his signature, but neither club has been able to create the conditions required to complete a deal.

Atalanta have now opened discussions with Kessie’s representatives as they explore the possibility of bringing him back to Bergamo. The move would reunite the midfielder with the club where he first made his name in Italian football.

The development was reported by Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, who said negotiations between Atalanta and Kessie’s camp had begun.

“Kessie emerged in Italy wearing the Atalanta shirt before later moving to Milan, and now, after several years, the paths of the midfielder and his former club may cross again. Negotiations have started and Atalanta are working hard to complete the deal,” Di Marzio wrote on his website.

Kessie joined Atalanta before establishing himself at Milan, where his performances helped make him one of the most recognised midfielders in Serie A. He subsequently left Italy and continued his career with Al-Ahli Saudi, but has been looking for an opportunity to return to the league where he began his European rise.

The 28-year-old’s possible move to Juventus had already suffered a setback. Di Marzio, who works as a reporter for Sky Sport, previously reported that Kessie had informed Juventus that the circumstances were not right for the transfer to go ahead.

That development increased uncertainty around his next destination and left room for another Italian club to intervene. Atalanta have now attempted to take advantage of the situation, with the club working to revive a relationship that began when Kessie was developing as a midfielder in Bergamo.

There is also interest from Saudi Arabia. Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiyah reported that Al-Ittihad are interested in signing Kessie. However, the club has not made a final decision because it is weighing his potential arrival against other players as it considers how to use its available foreign-player places.

Kessie’s future therefore remains unresolved, with Atalanta now competing alongside the interest previously associated with Juventus and Roma, while Al-Ittihad continue to assess whether he should be included in their plans. Any return to Italy would represent a new stage in the midfielder’s career and could bring him back to the club that provided his first major opportunity in Serie A.