Gian Piero Gasperini welcomes back “best buy” Duvan Zapata for Atalanta and has no regrets about letting Dejan Kulusevski leave for Juventus, via Parma.

La Dea host Parma on Monday at 14.00 GMT, click here for the match preview.

“We are up against a side that has done particularly well this season, but we want to continue where we left off with the great victory over Milan,” said the coach in his press conference.

Gian Piero Gasperini welcomes back “best buy” Duvan Zapata for Atalanta and has no regrets about letting Dejan Kulusevski leave for Juventus, via Parma.

La Dea host Parma on Monday at 14.00 GMT, click here for the match preview.

“We are up against a side that has done particularly well this season, but we want to continue where we left off with the great victory over Milan,” said the coach in his press conference.

“For the next month or so, we can concentrate fully on Serie A and improving our consistency in this competition, because we’ve wasted too many opportunities already. I think we have the potential to not just repeat last season, but do even better.

“Our objective is to get back into Europe and that is by no means easy, because Napoli are bound to get back on track, as are Milan, Torino, Parma and Cagliari. It’s going to be a big fight for the top six or seven spots.”

Atalanta have Duvan Zapata back at last, over three months after his serious thigh injury on international duty with Colombia.

“Everyone will try to reinforce their squads in January and Duvan Zapata represents the best new buy we could possibly get. The team has shown what it can do, even with many absentees and more matches than we are accustomed to, so there is no immediate requirement for new signings.”

Simon Kjaer’s loan spell from Sevilla will be cut short, while Musa Barrow is very close to joining Bologna.

Meanwhile, Atalanta have already sold Kulusevski to Juventus for €35m plus up to €9m in bonuses, although he’ll remain on loan at Parma this season.

“Having done so well this season, it was natural he’d get a lot of attention in the media,” continued Gasp.

“I am sure Kulusevski will become a very important player for Juventus. He’ll have his journey, Juve have their investment for the future, while we will have the opportunity to continue building this club.

“Parma are using him in a new role at the moment, as they have so many injuries in attack, but that suits their counter-attacking approach anyway. We need to play with quality, technique, pace and concentration.”

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