A year ago, El Bilal Touré made headlines when he joined Atalanta as the club’s most expensive signing ever, donning the iconic number 10 shirt. Fast forward to today, and the Malian forward is on the verge of saying goodbye, as negotiations are nearing completion for his transfer to Germany. Stuttgart is reportedly finalizing a deal that will see Touré move on loan, with a buyout clause that will become mandatory if certain conditions are met.
Touré was absent from the squad list for the European Super Cup in Warsaw, signaling his departure was imminent as discussions about his future were already underway. The 23-year-old forward had previously expressed a desire for a change, which Atalanta’s head coach Gian Piero Gasperini confirmed just last week. The only thing missing was the right solution for all parties involved.
That solution appears to have arrived with Stuttgart, who, like Atalanta, will be competing in the UEFA Champions League next season. Touré was signed for €29 million plus an additional €3 million in bonuses from Almeria just a year ago, with a percentage of any future sale earmarked for the Spanish club. However, his time in Bergamo has been marred by injury, limiting him to just 478 minutes of playing time, which included three goals—two in Serie A against Genoa and Monza, and one in the Europa League during the semi-final clash against Marseille. Unless unexpected developments occur, this chapter in Touré’s career appears to be coming to a close, paving the way for what could be a fresh start in Germany.
