BERGAMO, Italy (AP) — Ivory Coast captain Franck Kessie signed with Atalanta on Saturday to mark a return to the first club that he played for in Europe.
The Serie A club said Kessie signed a multi-year contract, without providing details. Juventus had also been attempting to sign him but coach Luciano Spalletti said there were issues with financial fair play regulations.
“If we don't sell someone, it's tough to consider new entries,” Spalletti said on Friday.
Kessie, a 29-year-old midfielder, first joined Atalanta in 2015 when he was assigned to the Bergamo club’s youth squad.
After a loan spell at Cesena, Kessie scored a brace in his Serie A debut with Atalanta in 2016. He then went on to play for AC Milan, Barcelona and Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia.
Coached by Maurizio Sarri, Atalanta beat Sassuolo in its Serie A opener last weekend and hosts Bologna on Monday.
Kessie helped Ivory Coast reach the World Cup knockout rounds this year for the first time. He scored in a group-stage loss to Germany.
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