Juventus legend Leonardo Bonucci admits Duvan Zapata would give him sleepless nights as Premier League trio Everton, Nottingham Forest and West Ham United eye the Serie A colossus, speaking to Juve’s official Twitch account.
Make no mistake, this was not an irrational fear. The threat of Zapata, as Bonucci knows only too well, was very real indeed.
Between 2016 and 2022, Zapata scored no fewer than six goals against Juventus. Including the winner at the Allianz Stadium back in November 2021. The Colombian international, not for the first time, got the better of Bonucci that night in Turin; even one of the most talented and decorated centre-halves of the modern era waking up in cold sweat by the thought of going toe-to-toe with Zapata.
“I wouldn’t sleep the night before a game against (Chelsea legend) Didier Drogba. The same goes for Atalanta’s Duvan Zapata,” Bonucci said when asked to name his most testing opponents.
“I’ve always been concerned by his physicality.”
Everton and West Ham United like Atalanta striker Duvan Zapata
Zapata will turn 32 in April. With 18 months left on his contract – and with Rasmus Hojlund and Ademola Lookman establishing themselves as Atalanta’s first-choice strike partnership these days – the former Napoli targetman is expected to bid an emotional farewell to Bergamo this summer.
Everton failed with a loan-to-buy deal on the final day of the January window (TEAMtalk); Atalanta refusing to let Zapata go unless someone paid £17 million up front. The Toffees, should they avoid relegation, could renew their interest at the end of the season with Zapata – a massive physical presence at 6ft 2ins but mobile too – perfectly suited to Sean Dyche’s aggressive, up-and-at-’em approach.
Nottingham Forest and West Ham both lodged enquiries (Tuttomercatoweb and the Daily Mail). The permanent signing of Chris Wood from Newcastle may draw a line under Forest’s interest. But West Ham – like Everton – could come calling again. Michail Antonio, after all, is potentially entering his final few months in claret-and-blue.
“Zapata’s shorts look like underwear, he is so big,” quipped former Atalanta captain Papu Gomez on Instagram.
“When he is feeling good, he’s like a train. You throw the ball forward and ‘ciao!’”
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