De Ketelaere’s Christmas Gift: Leading Atalanta to Serie A Summit

Charles De Ketelaere has emerged as the hero in Atalanta’s 3-2 victory against Empoli in Serie A’s 17th round. This crucial win propels Gian Piero Gasperini’s team to the top of the league table just in time for Christmas celebrations.

Gasperini praised De Ketelaere’s performance, highlighting his second goal as “extraordinary and decisive.” The Belgian forward equalized with a header and then scored the winning goal with a brilliant left-footed strike after a impressive solo run. Beyond his goalscoring, the 22-year-old ex-Milan player delivered an outstanding all-round performance.

De Ketelaere’s statistics this season are remarkable: 24 appearances, 10 goals, and 9 assists across 1,559 minutes of play. He has clearly taken a significant leap in his development, demonstrating versatility as both a striker and an attacking midfielder. This progress validates Paolo Maldini’s initial faith when bringing him to Milan, although De Ketelaere has now found the perfect environment to flourish under Gasperini’s guidance.

With his current form, De Ketelaere may soon attract interest from Europe’s top clubs. His value has likely doubled since Atalanta acquired him from Milan, potentially exceeding the €35 million Milan initially paid to Club Brugge in 2022. As Atalanta continues to impress, their fans can dream of a potential Serie A title, with De Ketelaere playing a pivotal role in their campaign.