After 104 scorers in 5 years
The Italian top club Atalanta BC and striker Josip Iličić are going their separate ways after five years together. As the club from Bergamo announced, an agreement was reached with the 34-year-old Slovenian to terminate the contract that originally ran until 2023. Iličić leaves Atalanta as a club legend. He has played a significant role in the club’s upswing in recent years, having reached the Champions League several times, including the quarter-finals in 2020, third Serie A places in 2020 and 2021 and Coppa Italia finals in 2019 and 2021.
Most recently, however, Iličić could no longer help “La Dea” in terms of sport. Since the beginning of the year, the 80-time national player has been out for the second time in a few years due to severe depression. He was last on the field in Serie A on January 9th. A mental illness also forced Iličić to take a longer break as a result of the severe first corona wave in Bergamo in 2020.
A statement on the Atalanta website said: “Since 2017 he has enchanted Bergamo with his pure class. On the pitch he made us dream with his magic, off the pitch he moved us with his sensitivity and humanity. The Valencia coup (Champions League Round of 16 win; Note d. editor) will forever remain the manifesto of Master Iličić, the noble gesture of donating the ball to the Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital in Bergamo on this magical evening is a portrait of the man Josip. There are many more goals and assists to list, but what those five seasons together has meant goes far beyond numbers. Now we part ways, but the memories and emotions will stay forever. Good luck, Professor, and thank you for everything!”
Hai incantato Bergamo con le tue giocate, ci hai fatto sognare in campo e commuovere fuori.
Grazie di tutto, Prof
You enchanted Bergamo with your plays, made us dream on the pitch and moved us off it.
Thanks for everything, Prof #GoAtalantaGo pic.twitter.com/4nqNjkVzyn
— Atalanta BC (@Atalanta_BC) August 31, 2022
How things will continue with Iličić initially remained open. In recent days, he has also been linked with a move within Serie A.
Preventing depression is difficult. It is also difficult to self-diagnose whether it is a temporary “depressed mood” or whether it is depression that requires treatment.
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