Soccer
Mateo Retegui has completed a permanent transfer to Al-Qadsiah from Atalanta.
Retegui, who has signed a four-year contract with the Saudi Pro League side, reportedly joins for a €65m fee plus add-ons, which would make him the most expensive ever Italian player.
The 26-year-old’s move would surpass the total Newcastle United paid AC Milan for the services of Sandro Tonali, who arrived at St. James’ Park for a reported €59m.
Retegui spent just one season at Atalanta, signing from Genoa as a replacement for the injured Gianluca Scamacca, and impressed under Gian Piero Gasperini.
He finished as Serie A’s top scorer in 2024-25 after finding the back of the net 25 times in 36 appearances in the competition.
The Italy international scored 10 goals with his right foot and 10 with his left foot, becoming the second player to reach double figures in goals with both feet in a single campaign in the last 20 Serie A seasons (since 2005-06), after Alessandro Del Piero in 2007-08.
Retegui averaged a goal every 96 minutes in the Italian top flight last season, while also boasting the best shot conversion rate (24%) of all the strikers in the competition to feature more than 30 times.
Retegui has arrived
Welcome to Khobar! #AlQadsiah | #ReteguiQadsawi pic.twitter.com/OV6xR3C2vZ— AlQadsiah Saudi Club (@AlQadsiahEN) July 21, 2025
Retegui made 49 appearances across all competitions for Atalanta, scoring 28 goals and providing nine assists.
He joins Al-Qadsiah after the Saudi Pro League side saw Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang depart last week, with the striker expected to join Ligue 1 side Marseille.
In the top flight last season, Aubameyang scored 17 times, a total only bettered by six players in the competition.
Retegui will be hoping to provide some firepower for Al-Qadsiah, who finished fourth in the Saudi Pro League in 2024-25.
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