One step away from Atalanta. In the summer of 2022/2023, two years ago, everything seemed set in Bergamo for the arrival of Marc Pubill. The 'Bergamasco' club had reached an agreement with Almeria for a fee of around 20 million euros, including bonuses, to secure the young Spanish full-back, who had just returned from the Paris Olympics. The 2003-born player was also being followed with interest by other Italian clubs like Roma and Bologna — but everything came to a halt just short of the finish line.
After the Olympics, Pubill flew to Bergamo to undergo his medical tests and was photographed wearing the Atalanta kit, which clearly signaled that the transfer was close to completion. However, during the examinations, concerns emerged over a previous injury to his left knee, which had been operated on October 4, 2023. As reported by Marca, Atalanta's medical staff advised caution, influenced by the precedent of El Bilal Touré, who had suffered a serious relapse after his transfer from Almeria.
As a result, Atalanta attempted to renegotiate the deal with Almeria, proposing a loan with an option to buy instead of a permanent transfer — an offer rejected by the Spanish club. Marc Pubill’s father, Ignasi, later expressed his anger on social media, posting a photo of his son during the Olympic final showing a fresh wound on the same knee that Atalanta’s doctors had flagged — indicating that it was recent and not an old scar.
Source: Calciomercato.com
