Official: Monchi pulls off another great deal for Sevilla

Papu Gómez has put an end to weeks of speculation by finally making the switch from Atalanta to Sevilla. The 32-year-old is viewed as a perfect addition to an already strong team. It’s another masterstroke by Sevilla’s Director of Football Monchi, who gained the reputation of being one of the best in the business.

Shrewd transfer dealings have enabled Sevilla to punch above their weight for years and made them almost annual winners of the Europa League. In the past decade, Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo, nicknamed Monchi, has been in charge of transfers that have transformed the club both on the pitch and in terms of financial standing. Dani Alves, Ivan Rakitic, Christian Poulsen, Julio Baptista are just some of the many players that have joined Sevilla, improved the team and then left for high transfer fees. This cycle has been repeated many times thanks to a fantastic eye for talent and a great sense for business by Monchi and the rest of Sevilla’s recruitment team.

Papu Gómez has been an important part of Atalanta’s recent resurgence. He captained the club from Bergamo to an excellent third-place finish in the 2018/19 Serie A and Champions League Quarter-finals the following season. However, his relationship with Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini broke down beyond repair in late 2020, so the former Arsenal de Sarandi and San Lorenzo star requested a transfer. Sevilla were the quickest to pounce and secure the influential player for a fee of just $6 million with another $2 million in potential bonuses.

The five-times Argentina international professed his love for Atalanta and their fans but is determined to taste football in La Liga and do well in the region of Andalusia.

"I am sad to leave Bergamo after so many years, but I am happy for the new adventure. Do I have any regrets? No. Everything I’ve done since the first day with Atalanta – I’d do again. We have made the history of this club. Now Atalanta is at the top of Europe. What do I say to the fans? I will miss them very much. This is my home, see you soon."

On his departure from Italy, Gómez said that he loves everyone at Atalanta – including Gasperini. It was a classy departure by the player who spent seven and a half years in Bergamo, making 252 appearances while recording 59 goals and 71 assists. Now he’ll be a part of Julen Lopetegui’s side that finished fourth in the league last season.

Papu has put a pen to a contract that will run until June 2024 and will earn around $3 million nett a year. This is almost a million more than what his salary was in Italy.