According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Internazionale has contacted Atalanta to discuss the possibility of signing Palastras.
Marotta has already communicated with Percassi, who still needs to finalize Sarri's coaching arrangements. In the coming weeks, there may be new developments in these negotiations.
Palastras has completed his first Serie A season and received several awards: he was named best defender, and the Serie A league presented him with a trophy after the dramatic match between Cagliari and AC Milan; he was also named the fastest player, with computer data showing his sprint speed reached 27.96 kilometers per hour, almost like a scooter with legs instead of wheels.
Meanwhile, Palastras also made his national team debut and showed commendable character in the terrible play-off match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. This crazy year for him might even become unforgettable, as Internazionale has decided to sign him immediately, without even waiting to see how Dumfries will handle his release clause.
Regarding contact, the current situation and possible developments are as follows. The 21-year-old Palastras previously made his Atalanta first-team debut under Gasperini, then was loaned to Cagliari, and has just had an excellent season. Typically, if a club cannot include a buy-out option in the negotiations, they will not overly rely on a player. But Palastras was good enough to convince Fabio Pisacane, who is very knowledgeable about young players, with just a few training sessions and matches. Pisacane, who coached youth teams, asked Palastras to specialize on the wing, preparing him for future success.
However, Palastras will now return to Atalanta's control. As is well known, Atalanta is never in a hurry to sell players, but if the conditions are attractive enough, they will choose to let them go. Palastras, born in 2005, has an annual salary of only 280,000 euros, which is an unmissable opportunity for those operating in the transfer market. The same goes for Internazionale; in Chivu's 3-5-2 system, Palastras can play in his familiar right wing-back position or on the other flank.
Therefore, Marotta has contacted Percassi at Atalanta, hoping to explore a deal. Everything is just beginning, it's only initial contact. Atalanta wants to hear all possible offers to determine the right price, so they are not in a hurry to respond. Especially with Maurizio Sarri coming to Bergamo, his opinion may influence the club's strategy.
But Internazionale's early move is precisely to gain an advantage in the competition. After the last match between the two teams at San Siro, Chivu spoke with Palastras and congratulated him, and Thuram did the same. Everyone within Internazionale, including Oaktree Capital, recognizes the value of this investment, believing that this young winger is destined for an excellent career.
Regarding the release clause, there is indeed the factor of Dumfries. Dumfries is one of the strongest players in the world in his position. However, his contract includes a 25 million euro release clause, valid until the end of July, and he also maintains the possibility of a high-level transfer. Last summer, Dumfries did not exercise this right, choosing to stay at Internazionale. But if he receives a sufficiently tempting offer, he might accept it.
Dumfries is already 30 years old, and if he plays an important role for the Netherlands at next year's World Cup, he might then have one last attractive experience in his career. Conversely, if he chooses to stay, it won't bother anyone. Instead, it will help Palastras integrate. Palastras is from Buccinasco, near Milan, and Dumfries staying would allow him to adapt to his new identity more smoothly.
In short, signing a young player who is already ready for Serie A perfectly aligns with the Internazionale owners' team-building philosophy. As for whether to sell players later, there is still plenty of time. After all, the path of another winger, Luiz Henrique, seems to be set, and it looks like it will be away from Internazionale; while Diouf, who is on the rise, might become a surprise as a winger in the new season. Perhaps it's better to first build up more personnel reserves and then streamline.