Franck Kessie Returns to Atalanta Eleven Years After Leaving for Cesena

Eleven years after leaving Bergamo for Cesena, Franck Kessie has come home. The captain of Ivory Coast signed with Atalanta this Saturday, the club that saw him take his first steps in European soccer, in what can be read as a rather particular full circle moment for a 29 year old player who has already won nearly everything.

The Italian club confirmed the signing with a multi year contract, though no financial details or exact length of the deal were disclosed. What matters most, in any case, is the symbolism: Kessie returns to the club that brought him into its youth ranks back in 2015, when he was just an Ivorian teenager dreaming of making his way in Europe.

Kessie's history with Atalanta hadn't ended entirely well in terms of continuity, but it was memorable on the field. After a loan spell at Cesena, he made his Serie A debut wearing the 'Orobici' jersey in 2016, and he did it in style: he scored a brace in that opening match. From there, his career kept climbing: he moved on to AC Milan, then to Barcelona and, more recently, played in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli.

What stands out is that Kessie didn't arrive at Atalanta as the market's first choice. Juventus had also tried to sign him, but the numbers didn't add up. The 'Old Lady's' coach, Luciano Spalletti, was clear about it on Friday, before the move to Bergamo was confirmed.

If we don't sell someone, it's hard to think about new signings.Luciano Spalletti

That statement sums up pretty well the financial fair play problem that kept Juventus from advancing in the negotiation, and which ended up clearing the path for Atalanta to land an internationally proven midfielder with barely any real competition in the bidding.

A Present With Good Momentum

Kessie joins an Atalanta side that started the season on the right foot under Maurizio Sarri: the team beat Sassuolo in its Serie A opener last weekend and hosts Bologna this Monday. It wouldn't be surprising if the Ivorian needs a few weeks to adjust to Sarri's rhythms, but his experience across leagues as different as Italy's, Spain's and Saudi Arabia's should help him settle in quickly.

On the international front, Kessie is coming off a standout year with Ivory Coast, whom he helped reach the round of 16 at a World Cup for the first time in the nation's history. At that same tournament, he scored a goal in a group stage loss to Germany, further proof that, despite the passing of time and the changes of club, he remains a decisive figure for whichever team needs him most.