Atalanta need a bit of flair added to their team in the race for Champions League football and, who knows, maybe even a race for the Scudetto. Gian Piero Gasperini told his directors that he wants Sassuolo’s winger Jeremie Boga signed as soon as possible. And guess what? The charismatic Gasp will get his wish.Boga has been one of Sassuolo’s best performers ever since joining from Chelsea in an $11 million deal three and a half years ago. Now the green and whites stand to more than double their money.
This exciting young player showed so much promise that Chelsea scouts spotted him in a youth tournament when he was only 12 years old and offered him a scholarship in London straight away. Boga learned a lot in England but he never got to play a significant role for the Blues.There remains a regret of never getting to see the Ivory Coast international strut his stuff in a Chelsea shirt. He only played 18 minutes in the Premier League for the Blues, who chose to loan him out to Rennes, Granada and Birmingham City between 2015 and 2018. 12 January, 22.00: (7.50) Equatorial Guinea (3.80) Ivory Coast (1.53)Sassuolo were monitoring the young winger and splashed the cash to take him to Italy in 2018. Boga was thankful to finally get a leading role at a club playing in a top league.The Emilia Romagna region club has proved a great breeding ground for footballers that would later join much bigger and more glamorous sides. Players go there believing it’s a stepping stone to elite clubs such as Juventus (Merih Demiral and Simone Zaza), Inter Milan (Stefano Sensi and Matteo Politano), Barcelona (Kevin-Prince Boateng) and Atletico Madrid (Sime Vrsaljko). Boga certainly knew that regular first-team football would increase his chances of improving his career.”Sassuolo is a top club for young players who want to have game time or have a team where they can come and impress and then go to a bigger team. It’s the perfect club for them.”Jeremie Boga from Sassuolo to Atalanta, confirmed and here we go! Done deal and agreement reached today between clubs. Final fee will be around €22m plus add ons. 🤝🇨🇮 #transfersBoga will be in Bergamo in the next hours for medical and contract signing. Here we go. @SkySport pic.twitter.com/92QwlqnNze— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 25, 2021 He was right. Atalanta will be a big step up for the exciting winger.The Ivorian international grew up on the streets of Marseille playing football and dreaming of reaching the big arenas. His style from those early days was hard to translate into the professional game, but he’s still one of the best dribblers you’re likely to see.”That’s my style – to dribble. But over the years, I think I’ve improved. Before, I used to force it. If there were three players, I’d still try and do something. Now, if there are three players, I’ll look for a one-two or a pass. But every time there’s a one-against-one for me, an opportunity to go past a player, then I take it.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jeremie Boga (@jeremieboga) Boga will turn 25 in early January 2022 and has the best years of his career ahead of him. Atalanta and Gasperini will get their Christmas present after a short delay. Boga will arrive in Bergamo on Monday, but his first match in the Nerazzurri could be a bit late because of AFCON. Boga has been called up by the Ivory Coast for the tournament and if his team goes all the way in Cameroon, the Ivorian would join his new teammates in early February.