Atalanta have made a decisive move to sign Mario Gila, opening direct negotiations with Lazio after identifying the Spanish centre-back as one of their top defensive targets.
According to Alfredo Pedullà, the Bergamo club have already reached an agreement with Lazio, but the transfer remains on hold because the player has yet to give his approval.
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The Serie A side submitted an official offer worth €22 million plus €3 million in bonuses. Lazio, who had initially valued Gila at around €30 million, have agreed to lower their demands and accept the proposal.
However, despite the clubs finding common ground, the deal has stalled as the 2000-born defender is not yet convinced about making the move to Bergamo.
Napoli, Milan and Juventus Still Monitoring the Situation
Gila has chosen to wait because he has been hoping for a concrete approach from Napoli, who have admired him for some time.
The Italian champions, however, are currently unable to complete new signings until they first generate funds through outgoing transfers, leaving the situation at a standstill.
Meanwhile, Milan have also re-entered the race after making fresh enquiries in recent hours. The Rossoneri have tracked Gila before, having followed him closely during the previous winter transfer window under the club’s former management structure.
Juventus Interest Remains Alive
Another key development involves Juventus. In recent days, head coach Luciano Spalletti reportedly held a direct phone conversation with Gila, reaffirming the Bianconeri’s strong interest, which first emerged at the end of April.
Juventus continue to rate the Spanish defender highly, but the club’s transfer strategy depends on completing at least one defensive sale before making a formal move.
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For that reason, CEO Giovanni Carnevali is also keeping Jhon Lucumí on the shortlist as an alternative option.
As reported by Alfredo Pedullà, Gila’s future remains wide open, with Atalanta holding an agreement with Lazio while Napoli, Milan and Juventus continue to monitor the situation closely, hoping to take advantage if the defender decides against a move to Bergamo.