Roma captain Alessandro Florenzi joined Valencia on loan in January, but had been close to Atalanta, according to reports.
The Italy international requested a loan move in order to get more playing time in the run-up to Euro 2020, although contracting chicken pox and then seeing the Coronavirus shutdown has changed all those plans.
According to Sky Sport Italia, Florenzi had been a firm target for Atalanta, who felt he’d bring valuable experience to the side in their Champions League campaign.
Fiorentina had also been interested, but he chose to go abroad for a new experience at Valencia.
Curiously, Florenzi eventually played for Valencia against Atalanta in that Champions League Round of 16 tie.
La Dea won 4-1 at home and 4-3 away for a 8-4 aggregate victory that put them in the quarter-finals.