Atalanta Bergamo’s Josip Ilicic (33) is once again struggling with mental problems. This was confirmed by coach Gian Piero Gasperini after the 0-0 draw at Lazio Roma – the third game in a row that the attacker missed. “It’s not easy for me to talk about such a personal situation. I can say that we will always be there for him. These are things that go beyond football,” Gasperini said (quoted via “Sky sports“), who has used Ilicic in 23 games this season. The left-footed player last played on January 9 in the 6-2 win at Udinese Calcio.
“Our head is a jungle, it is not always easy for psychologists to see through it. At the moment, neither the doctors nor I can say when Josip will come back,” said the coach. Ilicic is under contract with Atalanta until 2023, who bought him from Fiorentina in 2017 for 6.4 million euros.
The Slovenian international played 172 games (60 goals/44 assists) for the northern Italians and is one of the ten most-used foreign players in the club’s history. “La Dea” had to do without Ilicic at the end of the 2019/20 season due to mental problems, as former teammate Papu Gómez (33) revealed in an interview with “TyC Sports”.
After Ilicic was infected with the corona virus, he “fell into depression”, after which the club allowed him to retire to his homeland. Only months later was the offensive player available again.
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