Inter has moved closer to a major deal: Marco Palestra increasingly close to leaving Atalanta for around 50 million euros
According to the latest reports from Italian and British football sources, Inter are in the final stage of their attempt to bring in Marco Palestra from Atalanta, a 21-year-old right-back and wing-back who attracted attention during the 2025/26 season after a loan spell at Cagliari. The deal has not yet been officially announced or confirmed at club level, but several sources state that the talks are centred on a package worth approximately 50 million euros. SempreInter, citing transfer-window information, writes that the structure being discussed is 45 million euros in fixed compensation and an additional 5 million euros through bonuses. La Gazzetta dello Sport also states that Inter's move closer to an agreement accelerated after a positive meeting with Atalanta, while the final outcome remains tied to an agreement on the exact structure of the fee. According to the available information on 23 June 2026, this is a transfer that is close, but has not yet been formally completed.
Atalanta are holding firm on the price, Inter are trying to close the deal
The key to the negotiations remains Atalanta's valuation of the player. La Gazzetta dello Sport states that the Bergamo club do not want to let Palestra leave for an amount lower than 50 million euros, which explains why the talks are being conducted around a combination of guaranteed compensation and add-ons. Such a structure is common in major transfers of young players because it allows the selling club to immediately receive a significant part of the money, while the remainder depends on sporting performance, appearances, rankings or other previously agreed conditions. SempreInter writes that the clubs have moved closer to Atalanta's asking price and that further talks are taking place on the details of the bonuses and possible clauses that would ensure Atalanta benefit from a future transfer. Until such elements are agreed, the deal remains in the zone of very serious negotiations, but not an officially completed transfer.
For Inter, Palestra would represent an investment in a position that is becoming increasingly important in modern football. In systems that demand width, aggressive pressing and quick transition, wide players are no longer merely defensive correctors, but often one of the main sources of ball progression. Palestra is interesting precisely because he is not described only as a classic right-back, but also as a player capable of operating high along the touchline, moving inside and covering several phases of play. Cagliari describe him on their official profile as a wide player who can be used on both sides, with good physical capacity, a technical repertoire, dribbling, vision and tactical intelligence. Such a profile explains why Inter would be willing to concentrate a large part of their summer budget on one young defender.
Chelsea and Manchester City are monitoring the situation, but the player reportedly prefers to stay in Italy
Although Inter are currently considered favourites, the deal is further complicated by interest from the Premier League. Sky Sport Italia reported that Manchester City and Chelsea had contacts with Palestra's entourage, but that at that point they had not opened negotiations with Atalanta. According to the same source, Chelsea were checking the situation in the context of possible changes in the wide defensive positions, while the player's camp made it known that Palestra wants to stay in Italy and is particularly attracted by Inter. La Gazzetta dello Sport also states that English clubs have shown interest, but that Palestra rejected other inquiries and waited for developments in the talks between Inter and Atalanta. This does not mean that the competition has completely disappeared, but that Inter are currently in a better position because of the player's sporting and personal preference.
For Chelsea, entering more serious negotiations would mean the need to convince both Atalanta and the player. The financial strength of Premier League clubs often changes the dynamics of the transfer window, but here it seems that purchasing power alone is not enough. If Palestra truly believes that continuing his development in Serie A is the best step, the London club would have to offer a convincing sporting project, clear playing time and a role suited to his development. British interest nevertheless remains relevant because it could increase the pressure on Inter to conclude the deal before the negotiations open up further. Atalanta, on the other hand, have no reason to rush if they assess that a bidding contest can be created for the player among clubs from different leagues.
Why Palestra has become one of the most sought-after young full-backs in Serie A
Palestra's rise accelerated during his loan spell at Cagliari, which formally lasts until 30 June 2026. On 26 August 2025, Atalanta officially announced that they had sent the right wing-back to Cagliari on a temporary transfer until the end of the season, noting that he is a player developed in their academy and a member of the first team who had already played in Serie A and European competitions. Cagliari recall on their official profile that Palestra was born in Buccinasco in 2005, that he went through Atalanta's youth system and that on 3 September 2023 he made his debut for the under-23 team in Serie C. At that stage of his career, he collected 41 appearances, scored three goals and recorded three assists, thereby opening the path towards the first team. Particularly notable is his debut for Atalanta's senior team in a Europa League match against Raków Częstochowa, when he was only 18 years old.
Cagliari also state that Palestra became a more regular part of Atalanta's first team in the season before the loan. He came off the bench in the UEFA Super Cup final against Real Madrid on 14 August 2024, and soon afterwards made his Serie A debut in a 4-0 win against Lecce. In November 2024, he also made his first appearance in the Champions League against Young Boys. According to Cagliari's profile, he played a total of 15 matches for the Bergamo club in domestic and international competitions before gaining more room for development through the loan. It was precisely the more regular senior rhythm at Cagliari that proved decisive for the jump in his market value and the spread of interest beyond Italy.
A development path from Atalanta's academy to the Italian national team
Palestra's story fits into the broader pattern of Atalanta's work with young players. The Bergamo club has for years built a reputation as an environment that gives young players a technical and tactical foundation, and then develops them through the first team, loans or sales into players for the highest level. Palestra emerged from that system as a physically strong but also technically sufficiently refined wide player. A height of 186 centimetres gives him an advantage in duels and defensive coverage, while his ability to play on both sides of the defence increases his value for coaches looking for flexibility. In football in which wide players are expected to build attacks, close down counter-attacks and participate in pressing at the same time, such a combination of skills is especially sought after.
His progress has also been recognised in the national-team environment. The Italian Football Federation announced in March 2026 that Palestra was a debutant in Italy's senior national team after a call-up from head coach Gennaro Gattuso for additional World Cup qualifying matches. FIGC then pointed out that the call-up came as a natural continuation of consistent and good performances at Cagliari. In an interview for Vivo Azzurro TV, Palestra, according to the federation's announcement, said that he had not expected the call-up because playing for the national team is every player's dream. Such context is important for understanding why Atalanta are holding a high price: they are not selling only a club talent, but a young player who has already entered the orbit of the senior national team.
What the transfer would mean for Inter's squad
If the transfer is realised, Inter would get a player who can immediately increase competition on the right side, but also solve one of the most tactically demanding positions in the long term. According to SempreInter's report, Palestra would be ready to sign a five-year contract, which points to a plan not to bring him in as a short-term solution, but as a foundation for several seasons. Such a contract would also be logical from a financial perspective: a high fee for a 21-year-old is easier to justify if the club believes that the player will bring sporting value over a longer period or retain a high market value in the future. Inter would thereby send a clear message that, in rebuilding the squad, they want to combine competitive readiness with investment in an age profile that can grow.
At Inter, Palestra would also have to make an important step in terms of pressure, expectations and competition. At Cagliari he had space to develop through continuity, while at a club fighting for trophies every mistake is viewed under a much stronger magnifying glass. That is one of the reasons why such a transfer also carries sporting risk. Atalanta can demand a high fee because the market values youth, national-team potential and tactical flexibility, but Inter take on the obligation to turn that potential into stable performances at the highest level. If his development continues without interruption, Palestra could become one of the key Italian players in the wide defensive positions in the next cycle.
Atalanta's position: selling talent or retaining value
For Atalanta, the negotiating situation is delicate, but also favourable. The club have a player who is under contract, who came through their own academy and who, after a loan spell, has become interesting to a larger number of clubs. If they accept an offer of around 50 million euros, Atalanta would generate very significant revenue from a player developed in their own system. If, however, they conclude that the terms are not good enough, they can try to keep the player or wait for stronger offers from the Premier League. According to the available reports, Atalanta have so far not officially announced acceptance of any offer, which means that the player's formal status has not changed. Until the clubs issue official confirmation, the negotiations remain within the domain of the transfer window, in which even major deals are subject to change right up to the signature.
From a business perspective, Atalanta must weigh current value against future potential. After the season at Cagliari, Palestra has reached a point at which his next developmental step must be defined. A return to Bergamo could mean a fight for an important role at his parent club, while a transfer to Inter would bring a higher level of pressure, but also a clearer platform for European football. In such situations, Atalanta often try to secure not only a high fixed fee, but also bonuses or a percentage of a future sale. That is why the details of the contract structure can be just as important as the headline amount of 50 million euros.
Deadlines and next steps
According to the original information from the transfer window, negotiations are expected to intensify by the end of June, because Palestra wants to resolve the question of his future before the start of preparations for the 2026/27 season. This is understandable from the perspective of the player and the clubs. New coaches and coaching staffs want to know as early as possible which squad they are entering pre-season with, while a player changing surroundings must undergo a medical examination, sign a contract and adapt to a new system. If Inter and Atalanta agree on the final financial details, the next steps would be standard: club approval, medical examination, contract signing and official announcement. If, however, the negotiations drag on, interested clubs from England could get more room to try to change the dynamics.
At this moment, the most cautious formulation is that Inter are closest to Palestra, but the deal has not yet been concluded. Italian sources emphasise the player's preference for staying in Serie A and moving to Inter, while Sky Sport Italia confirms that Chelsea and Manchester City contacted his entourage without opening negotiations with Atalanta. Atalanta, according to the available information, are still holding a high price and trying to protect their own interests as much as possible. For that reason, the final stage of negotiations will show not only how much Inter truly want Palestra, but also how much the market is prepared to pay for a young Italian wide player at a moment when such profiles are among the most sought after in European football.
Sources:
- SempreInter – report on Inter's move closer to an agreement with Atalanta for Marco Palestra and the transfer structure of approximately 50 million euros (link)
- La Gazzetta dello Sport – information on positive talks between Inter and Atalanta, the player's preferences and Atalanta's asking price (link)
- Sky Sport Italia – report on Manchester City and Chelsea contacts with Palestra's entourage and his desire to stay in Italy (link)
- Atalanta BC – official announcement on Marco Palestra's loan to Cagliari until 30 June 2026 (link)
- Cagliari Calcio – official player profile with career data, appearances for Atalanta, physical characteristics and playing profile (link)
- FIGC – announcement by the Italian Football Federation on Marco Palestra's call-up to Italy's senior national team and his debutant status (link)