A decade or two ago, a Serie A top scorer would catch the eye of genuine football giants following a very efficient season, and join clubs like Bayern Munich (Luca Toni, in 2007), Barcelona (Zlatan Ibrahimovic, in 2009), Paris Saint-Germain (Edinson Cavani, in 2013) or Juventus (Gonzalo Higuain, in 2016). Yesterday, the Serie A 2024/2025 capocannoniere, Mateo Retegui, agreed to join the Saudi side Al-Qadsiah, after Atalanta accepted an offer worth €68 million. At the same time, the 26-year-old striker became the fourth most expensive player in the ongoing transfer window after Florian Wirtz (Liverpool), Matheus Cunha (Man United), and Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal).🚨 BREAKING! Al Qadsiah are closing in on a deal for Mateo Retegui from Atalanta for fee up to €65m package! 🇮🇹Proposal improved today for the Italian national team striker who has accepted huge contract offered by Al Qadsiah. 🤝ℹ️ @FabrizioRomano pic.twitter.com/4XptvzCSOD— Polymarket FC (@PolymarketFC) July 9, 2025 The scorer of 25 goals in the Italian top tier and three goals in the Champions League will earn between €64 million and €76 million (depending on bonuses) across four years.This way, the Argentinian-born Italian international will replace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, as the Gabonese is reportedly close to returning to Olympique Marseille.Al-Qadsiah’s two initial offers, worth €40 million and €53 million, were rejected, as Atalanta demanded as much as €70 million, but in the end, the two parties came to terms. If it hadn’t been so, the Saudis would have turned to Fiorentina’s Moise Kean, who was their alternative option.Great Auba is coming back to the big stage?Last season was the most efficient in Retegui’s career, as he scored 28 goals in all competitions and became only the second Atalanta player to become Serie A capocannoniere after the legendary Filippo Inzaghi in the 1996/1997 campaign.Interestingly, he joined La Dea last August only thanks to Gianluca Scamacca’s injury, as the club needed an immediate replacement. Before the team from Bergamo, he played for the Argentinian Boca Juniors, Estudiantes, Talleres, and Tigre, as well as the Italian Genoa.At Al-Qadsiah, Retegui will be captained by the former Real Madrid skipper, Nacho Fernandez, who is the most renowned name in their squad.##NAJAVA_MECA_9009580##
