Ivory Coast star Franck Kessié completes surprise return to Atalanta

Ivory Coast international Franck Kessié has completed a surprise return to Atalanta after leaving Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli, turning down the opportunity to join Serie A rivals Juventus and Roma.

According to reports, Kessié has finalised his move to Atalanta after negotiations with Juventus hit a snag.

The 29-year-old midfielder has now put pen to paper on his return to the Italian club, where he first established himself as one of the most promising midfielders in Serie A.

Kessié had reportedly made Juventus his preferred destination and had been in discussions with the Turin giants over a potential move. However, the proposed deal ultimately failed to materialise after the Ivorian decided that the conditions on offer were not suitable for him.

With the Juventus move off the table, Kessié opted for a return to familiar surroundings at Atalanta, despite also attracting interest from Roma.

His decision represents a return to the club where he enjoyed his breakthrough campaign in European football. During the 2016/17 Serie A season, Kessié made 30 league appearances for Atalanta, scoring six goals and providing four assists.

His performances during that campaign helped establish him as one of the most exciting young midfielders in Italy and eventually paved the way for his move to AC Milan.

Kessié went on to enjoy a successful spell at Milan before later moving to Barcelona and subsequently continuing his career in Saudi Arabia with Al Ahli.

Now back at Atalanta, the experienced midfielder will be hoping to rediscover the form that made him a standout performer during his first spell at the club.

The return also marks a significant moment for Atalanta, who have brought back a player with strong ties to the club and extensive experience gained across some of Europe’s biggest leagues.