Inter Loses Palestra, Atletico Madrid Angry at Barcelona: Latest News
June 24, 2026 · Global
Marco Palestra leaves Atalanta for Chelsea, while Inter Milan is looking for alternatives to strengthen the team. Atletico Madrid complained to Barcelona about unsportsmanlike behavior.
Shocking news came from Serie A, where Marco Palestra officially left Atalanta to join Chelsea. In this deal, Atalanta will receive 55 million euros, with a possible additional 3 million euros in bonuses, as well as a 10% percentage of future sales. Chelsea also made a more profitable offer than Inter Milan, with a contract offering the Palestra until 30 June 2031 and a total of around 30 million euros net over five years. His initial salary is estimated to be around 5 million euros, increasing to more than 6 million euros in the final year of the contract.
With Palestra's departure, Inter Milan must now look for alternatives to strengthen their line. Inter's backup plans now point to Andrea Cambiaso from Juventus and Dan Ndoye, a former Bologna player who now plays for Nottingham Forest. Additionally, Brentford's Michael Kayode and Dodo, a former Fiorentina team-mate who still plays for the club, are also options.
On the other hand, Atletico Madrid is facing a difficult situation regarding Julian Alvarez. The player expressed his desire to leave the club, while Atletico accused Barcelona of acting unsportsmanlike. In an official statement, Atletico stated, "Barcelona did not respect us. They thought they could trample on us and consider us weak and stupid, but in fact they showed the world a way of behaving that reflected themselves. This is not the first time Barcelona has behaved like this; last year they did something similar to Nico Williams and Athletic Club. Our responsibility is to defend the interests of Atletico Madrid. Therefore, we will report Barcelona to FIFA for negotiations with players who are still under contract during the protected period."
