Gasperini promises full UCL debut to Italy U19 talent: ‘He can be a nice surprise’

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – JANUARY 02: Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of Atalanta, looks on prior to the Italian Super Cup Semi-Final match between FC Internazionale and Atalanta at Al Awwal Park on January 02, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Gian Piero Gasperini has confirmed that Italy U19 talent Marco Palestra is set to earn his full Coppa Campioni debut when Atalanta take on Sturm Graz in the Coppa Campioni on Tuesday night, which he feels ‘can be a nice surprise’ for the tifosi. 

Atalanta are currently in 13th place in the Coppa Campioni standings after six matches, but could secure their position in the play-off round with a victory against the Austrian outfit on Tuesday night. 

“It’s a Coppa Campioni game, we haven’t secured qualification yet, tomorrow could be a decisive day,” Gasperini said during his pre-match press conference on Monday evening, reported via TMW. 

Gasperini: Atalanta ‘must keep concentration’ in ‘difficult’ Sturm Graz match

This will not be the first time the two sides have met in recent years. 

“Last year we played two balanced games, we won 1-0 at home, but we’ve changed some players since then,” Gasperini added. “They are a team who are in first place in their country, these are all very balanced games. They have only picked up three points, but they have lost narrowly in all the games they’ve played.” 

“I expected a fresh team, one that wants to play after a little period of inactivity. We have to be careful, keep our concentration and attention, we know it will be difficult. We can’t make mistakes, gaining qualification is not done yet.” 

Gasperini confirmed that Nicolo Zaniolo will not be involved for Atalanta on Tuesday night, but insisted that the set-back is nothing serious and nothing to worry about. 

“He’s had a bit of discomfort. It’s nothing serious, he won’t play tomorrow, but we’ll see afterwards,” he said. 

Gasp was also full of praise for goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi, who joined him for the pre-match press conferences. 

“He has always been a young guy with good prospects. I think he has also matured as a person, with great humility, even in good moments like now. He always has a desire to improve.” 

There was also a mini-update on Mateo Retegui and Juan Cuadrado: “Mateo’s numbers speak for themselves. He had a little stop, but he came back and was immediately decisive. Cuadrado was close to playing a bit more consistently, unfortunately he also suffered a bit of  a set-back.”

And then came the confirmation that Palestra will play as a starter in the Coppa Campioni for the first time. 

The 19-year-old played for 15 minutes off the bench against Young Boys earlier in the campaign and also earned his full senior debut in the 6-1 Coppa Italia victory over Cesena earlier in the season. Otherwise, he has only ever appeared off the bench for La Diva thus far.

“Tomorrow I will definitely play Palestra, I think the time has come to launch him in an important game. I think this guy can be a nice surprise.”