Gasperini keeps options open amid Roma and Juventus links

Italian coach Gian Piero Gasperini once again left his future open on Monday. Although he acknowledged that being linked to clubs like Roma – who are yet to appoint a manager for next season – makes him proud, he insisted that, for now, he is not considering a move. However, he did hint that his time with Atalanta may be coming to an end.

Speaking in Rome after receiving the Bearzot Award for Best Coach of the Year in Italy – an honour organised by the ACLI Sports Union in collaboration with the Italian Football Federation – Gasperini reflected on his future. This comes after his remarks in February, when he admitted he did not feel likely to extend his contract with the Bergamo side.

Two of Italy's biggest managerial vacancies are at Roma and Juventus. Claudio Ranieri is set to take on a director's role at the capital club, while Juventus appointed Croatian coach Igor Tudor only until the end of the season.

"Am I looking for a house in Rome or Turin? For now, my home is in Bergamo. The present is what matters, and there are still nine league matches to play. I've been here at Atalanta for nine years, which is quite unusual in football. It's been an extraordinary chapter of my life," Gasperini stated.

However, he acknowledged: "There's always a beginning and an end. What lies in between is the journey, which is often the most beautiful part. Winning the Europa League was a wonderful achievement, both the path we took and the final triumph."

Strong links to Roma

"Everyone would love to coach Italy – it's the pinnacle for any manager. And Roma? Just like Italy, who wouldn't want to coach them? It's an extraordinary club with an extraordinary fanbase. I consider it an honour to be linked with the Giallorossi, but for now, I prefer to stay focused on Atalanta," he concluded.

The coach was recognised with the award largely thanks to Atalanta's remarkable Europa League campaign, where they defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the final. Ademola Lookman stole the show with a stunning hat-trick, earning him the match MotM award.

Until that night, Bayer Leverkusen had not lost a single match all season. However, Gasperini's brilliant tactical approach saw his side dismantle Xabi Alonso's team. In Serie A, Atalanta finished fourth and also reached the Italian Cup final.

It was an outstanding 2024 for Gasperini, defined by his distinctive tactical philosophy – a back-three system with attacking wing-backs and man-marking principles, making his style instantly recognisable across Europe.

Atalanta are currently in the Scudetto race, sitting six points behind the leaders and three adrift of Napoli. However, their recent defeat to league leaders Inter Milan has made their title ambitions more complicated.

"The loss to Inter reduced our chances, but there's no need to take away the fans' dreams. We have to try to achieve the impossible," Gasperini concluded.