GR Sports makes it official
“NEW TRANSFER: RAFFAELE PALLADINO✍ Raffaele Palladino is the new Atalanta manager. Very proud of you and good luck for this new adventure Mister!” — GR Sports via LinkedIn.
The announcement comes less than 24 hours after Palladino’s departure from Fiorentina and confirms Atalanta’s rapid move to secure one of Serie A’s most progressive young coaches. Palladino replaces Ivan Jurić in Bergamo.
Why Atalanta moved for Palladino — and what it signals
Atalanta have spent the past decade building a reputation for bold talent bets and modern football. Palladino’s profile fits that arc:
- Fast riser: After impressing with Monza (Serie A debut as head coach in 2022), Palladino took over Fiorentina in June 2024, guiding them through a period of stylistic evolution before parting ways in November 2025.
- Immediate availability: The Florence exit cleared the path for Atalanta’s move, completed the very next day.
- Tactical fit: His Monza side earned plaudits for compact pressing and brave build-up — traits that align with Atalanta’s squad DNA and academy pipeline.
Expect Palladino to lean into a hybrid back line (shifting between a 3 and a 4), high full-backs and vertical midfield runs — a scheme that suits Atalanta’s athletic center-backs and ball-carrying eights.
Who is Raffaele Palladino?
- Player: A technically gifted winger/forward, born in 1984, Palladino came through Juventus and represented clubs including Genoa and Parma, earning Italy caps along the way.
- Coach: Transitioned from youth work into the big chair at Monza (2022), then Fiorentina (2024–2025), and now Atalanta (2025–).
About GR Sports (Giuseppe Riso)
GR Sports is the Milan-based agency led by Giuseppe “Beppe” Riso, one of Italy’s most influential intermediaries. Riso has been central to several headline moves in recent seasons, including Sandro Tonali’s switch to the Premier League and Davide Frattesi’s transfer to Inter. The group also represents coaches — a portfolio that now prominently includes Raffaele Palladino.
Check GR Sports agency profile for more info on their players: https://www.footballagencies.com/football-agency/gr-sports-agency/
Recent GR Sports storylines
- Sandro Tonali → Newcastle United (2023): One of the most expensive Italian exports.
- Davide Frattesi → Inter (2023): A showcase of the agency’s strong relationships across Serie A and beyond.
What success looks like in Bergamo
Short term: Stabilize Atalanta’s Champions League push and refresh attacking patterns without losing defensive balance.
Medium term: Accelerate development of academy graduates and value players — an area where Palladino’s track record (Monza, Fiorentina) suggests he can deliver.
The bottom line
GR Sports has made it public: Raffaele Palladino is the new Atalanta manager. For La Dea, it’s a statement of continuity and ambition; for Palladino, it’s the most significant platform of his managerial career to date. And for GR Sports, it’s another high-profile bench secured in a market the agency knows how to shape.
