REPORT: De Ketelaere answers to the idea of Milan’s return: “I don’t want to end up on the bench again”

Charles De Ketelaere has confessed that he wants to join Atalanta on a permanent basis during the summer transfer window because he does not want to return to AC Milan just to be benched.

De Ketelaere was Milan’s biggest signing in the 2022 summer transfer window following the Scudetto success, but he struggled in his first season with the club, scoring zero goals and assisting once in 40 appearances.

Thus, the decision was made to loan De Ketelaere to Atalanta, with the option to buy at the end of the arrangement.

They were expecting to employ it for the most of the season, given his 10 goals and eight assists. However, a recent report suggested that the playmaker’s return to the Rossoneri was not out of the question.

De Ketelaere spoke during an interview with HLN after the win over Liverpool on Thursday night and his comments have been relayed by Calciomercato.com.

“I’ve learned a lot from the negative season at Milan. It helped me to take steps forward and it will help me more in the future. You can learn a lot from a good season, but you learn even more from seasons that are not so good,” he said.

“I am happy at Atalanta; I’ve found the right environment for me and my playing style, which only Atalanta could give me. We play good football and all the players know what to do. Gasperini is tough but also fair.

“If it were up to me, I’d stay here because I can further improve. Milan are a big club, but I need to play right now and I don’t want to end up on the bench again. Atalanta are helping me, from the staff to my team-mates and the fans who have made me feel at home.”

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