The former Rossoneri player is one of three players with at least 15 goals and 15 assists in 2024 in all competitions: the others are Salah and Palmer
Warning, this is not a meme. The short video of Charles De Ketelaere who made a bad face during his time at Milan – oh God, he tried – has been doing the rounds on social media. Definitely not believable: a shy boy trying to act tough. With an aggravating circumstance: those are videos recorded and ready to put online after a goal… which CDK never scored at Milan. Nine months without ever rejoicing (and the three goals against Pergolettese in the summer are not worth it). It’s impressive to watch him now, as he jumps decisively, almost arrogantly, onto Theo Hernandez’s back to score the 1-0 Atalanta (and, speaking of the Rossoneri controversies, Charles explains: “I jumped higher, my hands are a little ‘ there but I look for the ball and I didn’t push, I was just higher”). The introverted child has become a true striker and for the transformation of water into wine you have to look to the stands, where Gasperini will have smiled happily. Above all thanks to him.
what has changed
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De Ketelaere scored 10 goals in the league last year and this season he already has 3, plus 2 in the Champions League which make themselves felt. Above all, he made an impact in an important match, something he hasn’t often managed to do in the past. Against Milan, we are at the replay: even in the last championship, here in Bergamo, the blond boy had annoyed his old coach Pioli. In this Atalanta he starts as a right-wing striker, not as an attacking midfielder like at Milan, and is free to light up: he has the centimeters and physique to command respect, plus the polite old left-footed player from Bruges, who is back in the news. Even the Nerazzurri shirts look the same.
atalanta destiny
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The relationship between Charles and Gewiss deserves a few lines. CDK played his first match with Milan here in Bergamo: he came on for the last half hour on the second day of the 2022-23 championship, when champions Milan drew with Atalanta with a goal from Bennacer. Isma is returning and De Ketelaere, then anonymous, has become another player in Bergamo. Indeed, a factor for the scudetto. Gasperini against Fonseca kept out Retegui, who would be the top scorer in the championship, and with Lookman and De Ketelaere it is possible. Who knows when Scamacca will return.
me, salah and palmer
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Milan naturally has regrets in this story. He bought De Ketelaere for 32 million plus 3 million bonuses and 12.5% on the resale margin, the great post-scudetto coup of Maldini’s management. The new RedBird management didn’t believe in Charles – and after all, it would have taken a leap of faith, the first year was terrible – and now they’re doing the math. The budget will almost break even but the thought is painful. It’s impossible to know if CDK would have blossomed at Milan – the feeling with Pioli hadn’t really developed – but two numbers are impressive. De Ketelaere and Lookman, considering all competitions, are the two Serie A players who have participated in the most goals in 2024. And in noble Europe, De Ketelaere is one of the three players with at least 15 goals and 15 assists in 2024 in all competitions competitions: the others are Mo Salah and Cole Palmer, two phenomena. The shy child now associates with the European aristocracy.
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