Thursday 29 October is a very important date for Atalanta manager veteran Maurizio Sarri.
The match between the Nerazzurri and Fiorentina, which is scheduled for Thursday 29 October, will be decisive.
Four defeats, one draw and just one win in their last six games in the league – in which they have conceded 14 goals. Atalanta are going through a very delicate moment, and eleventh place in the table confirms it: Maurizio Sarri’s position seems increasingly uncertain and, in the event of a negative result on Thursday night against Fiorentina, it could even end in the sacking of the former Napoli and Juventus coach.
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The Nerazzurri management is not entirely happy with Sarri’s work – and has already reportedly identified the ideal replacement for the 67-year-old Neapolitan: Thiago Motta.
But it doesn’t stop there. The Brazilian-born Italian coach, who was fired by Juventus on March 23, 2025, is said to have already given his approval to a possible transfer to Bergamo. Therefore, keep an eye on the next few hours and the outcome of the league match between Fiorentina and Atalanta…
Thiago Motta’s road so far
As a player , Motta was a midfielder who represented Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Genoa, Inter, PSG and the Italian national team. He won the Champions League with Barcelona (2006) and a number of league titles with Barcelona, Inter and PSG.
His coaching career started in PSG’s youth department, before becoming head coach at Genoa in 2019. After a brief spell at Spezia (2021–2022), he took over Bologna in 2022 – and that’s where his breakthrough came. In the 2023/24 season, he led Bologna to a surprising fifth place finish and qualification for the Champions League for the first time since 1964.
His success led him to Juventus in the summer of 2024, where he signed a three-year contract. But his stay in Turin was short-lived: After a weak season with a lack of sporting results, he was fired on March 23, 2025, just nine months after his appointment – despite the team still fighting for a top spot.
Since then, Motta has been without a club. Now Atalanta could be his next challenge – if Sarri is sacked after Thursday’s game against Fiorentina.
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