Done Deal: Krstovic to Atalanta for €30m including bonus after Muniz dropped | OneFootball

It is now a done deal, as Lecce and Atalanta shook hands this evening on Nikola Krstovic for €25m plus €5m in add-ons, because Fulham’s €50m demand for Rodrigo Muniz was excessive.

La Dea had hoped to get Muniz from Fulham this summer as the heir to Mateo Retegui, but when their €40m proposal was rejected and the asking price rose to €50m, they pulled the plug on that option.

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – APRIL 14: Rodrigo Muniz of Fulham looks on during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Fulham FC at Vitality Stadium on April 14, 2025 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Instead, they turned to Lecce centre-forward Krstovic and quickly got a deal over the line, having already spoken about this in recent days.

Krstovic secured quickly by Atalanta

epa11949665 US Lecce’s Nikola Krstovic (L) celebrated by his teammate Santiago Pierotti (R) after scoring during the Italian Serie A soccer match US Lecce – AC Milan at the Via del Mare stadium in Lecce, Italy, 8 March 2025. EPA-EFE/ABBONDANZA SCURO LEZZI

As confirmed by Football Italia transfer expert Alfredo Pedullà earlier today, the cost of the operation is €25m plus €5m in add-ons.

The Montenegro international turned 25 in April and was purchased from Dunajska Streda in 2023 for just €4.4m including bonuses.

epa11671211 US Lecce’s Nikola Krstovic in action during the Italian Serie A soccer match US Lecce vs ACF Fiorentina at the Via del Mare stadium in Lecce, Italy, 20 October 2024. EPA-EFE/ABBONDANZA SCURO LEZZI

He made a big impact in Serie A with 11 goals and five assists in 37 appearances last season, while Krstovic already scored in the first competitive match of this term, a Coppa Italia victory over Juve Stabia.

The forward is expected to undergo his Atalanta medical over the next 48 hours, to be ready for the opening weekend of the Serie A season.