Mitchel Bakker is drawn to Atalanta Bergamo. At Bayer Leverkusen he has never been able to convince consistently in the past two years.
Will no longer wear the Bayer jersey in the future: Mitchel Bakker goes to Bergamo. ANP via Getty Images
The left defensive side has been seen as a problem area for the Werkself lately. On the one hand there was Daley Sinkgraven, who left Bayer 04 on a free transfer this summer. On the other hand, Mitchel Bakker was in the squad for this post.
Due to a lack of alternatives, the 23-year-old was used in 28 Bundesliga games in 2022/23, was never able to convince consistently (average grade 3.95) – and is now leaving the club as well. The Dutchman moves on to Atalanta Bergamo for a fee of ten million euros plus possible bonus payments. The official announcement will follow shortly.
In 2021, Bakker had come from Paris Saint-Germain and brought interesting qualities with him. He is characterized by high speed and an outstanding physique – good prerequisites for becoming an important help as a left defender or left rail player.
Bakker, meanwhile, was inconsistent, and appealing performances were quickly followed by below-average performances – in his first and second year at Bayer 04 Leverkusen. In addition, off the field, he repeatedly made bad timing and was unpunctual. Of course, that didn’t help his standing.
Bergamo and Bakker – that could fit
Since Bayer were able to strengthen themselves on the left this summer – new signing Alejandro Grimaldo is planned as a manager and regular – the chances of playing Bakker, who made 40 appearances in total last season, would have been significantly reduced. So it’s logical that he’s now taking on a new challenge. Especially since his profile fits well with Atalanta.
Let the Lombards play in a system with a chain of three or five, in which the weaknesses of the model athlete on the defensive should not have such an effect. The Werkself, who recently introduced Granit Xhaka, raked in a decent fee but now need an alternative at the back left.
2023-07-06 19:57:05
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