Europa League winners Atalanta have announced the official deal with Genoa for Mateo Retegui’s big-money move to Bergamo. The 25-year-old center-forward underwent medical on Thursday morning before putting pen to paper on a four-year contract.
Atalanta reportedly paid Genoa €25 m upfront to land the ex-Club Tigre star. La Dea will splash out another €3m in add-ons if Retegui’s move to the Gewiss Stadium lives up to expectations. The Argentine-born striker will replace his national team colleague Gianluca Scamacca.
Following an underwhelming EURO 2024 campaign, Scamacca hoped to turn his fortunes around at Atalanta. However, the former Sassuolo and West Ham United succumbed to a long-term knee injury in a pre-season friendly. He’ll likely stay on the sidelines for six months with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
Scamacca’s injury forced Atalanta to act quickly in the market. With less than a fortnight left before the start of the new campaign, Gian Piero Gasperini’s men chose Retegui to lead the line in the Italian star’s absence. Retegui still has a point to prove following an injury-plagued first season in Serie A.
He only netted seven goals and delivered assists across 29 appearances for Genoa. That’s hardly enough to quench Gasperini’s ever-present thirst for goals. Therefore, Atalanta can only hope the club-record signing, El Bilal Toure, will find his footing in Italy after an injury-hit 2023/24 campaign.
Worryingly for Atalanta, they’re on the verge of losing Teun Koopmeiners. Gasperini confirmed he Dutchman’s keen to join Juventus.
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Manor Solomon has been linked with a move away from the club during the summer transfer window, and it will be interesting to see where he ends up. The player was on at Leeds United last season, and he does not have a future at Tottenham. The North London outfit will look to get rid of him permanently this summer. Fabrizio Romano claims that clubs from the Premier League and La Liga are interested in signing the Israeli International. He is likely to be available for a reasonable amount of money, given his situation. Spurs are aware of Manor Solomon situation Meanwhile, Romano claims that Tottenham are ‘aware’ of the interest in the player and he could move on in the final weeks of the window. The player needs to join a club where he will play regularly, and moving away from Tottenham would be ideal for him. Sitting on the bench at the North London club is unlikely to benefit him. Also, Tottenham are looking at attacking options, and they will not be able to provide the Israeli international with ample opportunities. He was quite impressive for Leeds in the Championship last season, and there were rumours that they could look to sign him permanently. It will be interesting to see how the situation develops. Solomon needs game time There is no doubt that he is good enough for the Premier League, and he must seek gametime assurances before joining a club this summer. He needs to sort out his long-term future quickly and focus on his football. It remains to be seen where he ends up. The player is very much at the peak of his powers, and he will look to compete at a high level. The move to a La Liga club or the Premier League could be ideal for him.
New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields found out he has a long way to go following his performance at Tuesday's joint practice with the New York Giants. Per Connor Hughes of SNY TV, Fields started hot at the practice before struggling during the move-the-ball period. "Very interesting practice for #Jets QB Justin Fields," Hughes posted on X. "He finished 7 of 12 with a TD. 5 of 5 to start practice. Then 0 for 4. Finished 2 of 3 with the really impressive TD to Jeremy Ruckert in red zone (starter 18 yard line). "The offensive performance was a bit alarming in move-the-ball period of practice. Fields Co. had three attempts to get down field. They didn’t gain a first down. Only gained yards twice (two short Breece Hall runs). Three sacks. That needs to be fixed. #Giants defense toyed with NYJ during that period." Some Jets fans online thought Hughes was using hyperbole to characterize the practice, but he doubled down on his judgment of the offense. Fields looked strong on his first and only drive in the Jets' 30-10 win over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night. He went 3-of-4 passing for 42 yards and rushed two times for 14 yards and a touchdown. However, the Giants defense at the joint practice is a much better unit than the short-handed one the Packers trotted out for the first preseason game. Fields' issues seen with the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers, with holding the ball too long and not being able to pass consistently downfield, were a factor against the Giants. Following Saturday's game, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said Fields was getting better but had a lot to improve on. Tuesday's practice was a humbling reminder that Fields needs to become a consistent passer if the Jets are going to move the ball on good defenses in the regular season.
Country singer Spencer Hatcher is mourning the sudden and heartbreaking loss of his mother, Holly Hatcher, who was killed during a violent home invasion in Virginia on August 3. According to the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office, 41-year-old Kevin Walker broke into the Hatcher home and fatally stabbed Holly, 62, a longtime local schoolteacher. Her husband, Michael Hatcher, 65, was also attacked but managed to retrieve a handgun from his vehicle and shoot Walker, killing him in an apparent act of self-defense, ENews said. When deputies arrived, they found Michael injured and Holly with multiple stab wounds inside the home. Authorities say the attack appears to have been completely random, with no known connection between Walker and the Hatchers. Sheriff Bryan Hutcheson described the incident as "highly unusual" and unlike anything he had seen in over 30 years of law enforcement. Investigators later learned that Walker's erratic behavior began two days earlier. He had checked into a campsite at Endless Caverns in the Shenandoah Valley, toured the caverns, and later purchased a sleeping bag and large knife from Walmart. The next day, his vehicle was found abandoned after allegedly ramming into a store at the RV park. Spencer Hatcher Thanks Fans, Asks for Privacy Following Loss Despite a search using patrol units and a drone, authorities were unable to locate him before the fatal home invasion. According to DailyMail, Spencer, 28, announced on Instagram that he would postpone three scheduled performances, including appearances at the VOA Country Music Fest in Ohio and the Rockingham County Fair in Virginia. "It is with a heavy heart and overwhelming sadness that—due to a monumental loss in our family—I must cancel my upcoming shows," he wrote, thanking fans for their support and asking for privacy. Michael Hatcher also spoke publicly on August 7, expressing gratitude for the community's outpouring of kindness. "There's no way for you to know the trauma and the pain... Each of you have made it much more bearable through your love and support," he said, his right arm bandaged from injuries sustained during the attack. Holly Hatcher had served as a teacher in rural Virginia for 19 years. Rockingham County Public Schools remembered her as a devoted educator who "poured her heart into her work" and made a lasting impact on students and colleagues.
The Milwaukee Brewers looked as though their hot stretch was going to end on Sunday, when the New York Mets jumped to a 5-0 lead. It was certainly not one of Quinn Priester’s best starts, as the right-handed hurler allowed six earned runs on 10 hits (including two home runs) while recording only two strikeouts and issuing a walk across 4 1/3 innings of work on the mound. It was an especially frustrating individual performance for Priester, considering how great he was in a previous start. Last Monday, Priester went seven innings long and gave up just an earned run on two hits in a 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves on the road. That was his 10th straight pitching win, and the streak appeared to be on the verge of getting broken in the Mets game. Fortunately for Priester, Milwaukee’s bats came alive just in time to secure another team victory — and keep Priester’s streak going. Priester speaks up on Brewers’ thrilling win against the Mets The Brewers managed to pull off a come-from-behind 7-6 victory, capped by a solo, walk-off home run by rookie sensation Isaac Collins. “It’s indescribable,” Priester said after giving up a season-high 11 hits (h/t Adam McCalvy of MLB.com). “They definitely made up for a lot of my miscues today, but it’s a team game. I love being a part of this team, because otherwise I wouldn’t be able to smile right now.” On the season, Priester is 11-2 with a 3.49 ERA and 1.24 WHIP through 22 appearances (17 starts). The Brewers have now won their last three series via sweeps, and they will look to keep it going with a three-game set coming up against the National League Central division cellar-dwelling Pittsburgh Pirates at home.
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