According to Italian transfer expert Alfredo Pedullà, Cristiano Giuntoli was in advanced negotiations with West Ham United before accepting an offer from Atalanta.
The former director for both Napoli and Juventus was reportedly close to finalizing an agreement with the English club. However, West Ham’s struggles in the Premier League, which ultimately led to their relegation to the English Championship, played a significant role in derailing the potential deal.
This decline in West Ham’s fortunes, combined with Atalanta’s expressed interest, caused negotiations with the Italian director to cease. As a result, Atalanta, also known as La Dea, was able to successfully secure a contract with the 54-year-old.
Giuntoli had been without a club during the 2025-26 season after parting ways with Juventus the previous summer. Atalanta is anticipated to officially announce his appointment in the upcoming days.
Looking ahead, Atalanta is expected to participate in the Conference League next season and is reportedly targeting Maurizio Sarri as their new head coach. Sarri, who previously worked with Giuntoli at Napoli, is set to replace Raffaele Palladino at the Gewiss Stadium.