Charles de Ketelaere at least had something to celebrate as Atalanta took on his parent club AC Milan last weekend. It wasn’t the goal the former Leeds United target craved, but it was something.
De Ketelaere, on loan at La Dea after one dismal season at the San Siro, made an inch of space on the left hand side and drilled in a cross converted at close range by the one-time Everton, Fulham and Leicester City forward Ademola Lookman. But, for the travelling Milan supporters, De Ketelaere’s remarkable miss earlier in proceedings – clearing the bar from point-blank range – was justification enough for the Rossoneri’s decision to cut their losses and allow Atalanta to include an option-to-buy clause in the embattled Belgian’s contract.
Charles de Ketelaere turned down Leeds move
Leeds United, according to Club Brugge CEO Vincent Mannaert, offered a club-record fee of £35 million for De Ketelaere in the summer of 2022, only to see the elegant attacker opt for Milan instead.
“Leeds United offered forty million euros,” Mannaert said. “It is not that De Ketelaere was not interested. But, at that time, his preference was for AC Milan.
“Leeds were willing to pay more, but we also respected the choice of our player.”
Now, it would be a little churlish to suggest that De Ketelaere, even with the benefit of hindsight, made the wrong choice. Leeds suffered relegation from the Premier League just nine months after missing out on the Brugges-born 22-year-old, after all.
But, with just two goals in 57 games for AC Milan and Atalanta, the jury is not so much out on De Ketelaere’s Serie A spell but ready to return a guilty verdict.
Two goals in 57 games since moving to Italy
“I only ask him to play football,” Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini told TMW before that Milan clash. De Ketelaere’s confidence taking a hit after a rather miserable year.
“When he loses the ball, I asked him not to lower his head. Those who play football know that many mistakes are made. He must not highlight the mistakes.
“He must have confidence because he has an environment around him (helping him to succeed).”
Whether that assist against his parent club proves to be a turning point in De Ketelaere’s Serie A career, only time will tell.
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