Atalanta are a team proving everybody wrong with their showing in the Serie A. The underdogs have been absolutely brilliant this year with 28 points from their 15 games, sitting 5th in the Italian top flight trailing 2nd placed Roma by a single point. The man who is so far providing the story from within the unbelievable rise of the Italian club is their 19-year-old midfielder Frank Kessie.
The powerful midfielder is the current top scorer of the club managed by a highly respected manager in Gian Piero Gasperini. Chelsea have registered their interest in the player with Juventus being the other high profile club in the mix.
Kessie has been a player who has been able to convince everyone of his talent from a very early age. Having cut his teeth with Stella club in his native Abidjan in Ivory Coast, the midfielder got a call-up to the national team for whom he made a debut at 17. Atalanta signed him up later and loaned him to Cesena in Serie B, where the player underwent a change in his playing position.
Massimo Drago, the manager of Cesena converted him into a central midfielder from a centre back with immediate results. Kessie and Sensi, on loan from Juventus, formed a partnership that propelled the club to the playoffs. Kessie finished the season with the accolade of being named in the Serie B’s team of the season.
The Ivorian has already earned a reputation of one of the most productive midfielders in Italy currently with his powerful built being coupled with his balance producing wonderful moments for Atalanta every week. ‘The Next Yaya Toure’ is what he is being called at the moment. In fact with the player’s knack of executing the late surges into the opposition’s box with his ball control is quite reminiscent of the Manchester City man himself.
Having scored 5 goals from midfield with an assist, Kessie has given the indication that he can thrive at the top level. Chelsea are willing to offer a contract to the £17m rated midfielder which will allow him to remain at his current club for the rest of the season. Juventus are also prepared to do the same.
At the moment it looks like there will be some movement regarding his transfer in January. If Chelsea manages to sign him then they would be adding a player of the potential of being the next superstar in their ranks. It would be a great transfer for the Blues but a bit awkward for Kessie who previously stated that Manchester United is the club he supports.
