Atalanta forward Charles De Ketelaere has picked up a pre-season injury that places him in doubt for the Conference League play-off first leg against Hapoel Tel Aviv on August 20 and the Serie A opener against Sassuolo — two fixtures that arrive within days of each other and carry consequences well beyond August.
The timing is particularly awkward for Raffaele Palladino's Atalanta. The play-off against the Israeli side — first leg at home in Bergamo on August 20, return leg on August 27 — represents la Dea's entry point into European competition for 2026-27, and losing De Ketelaere for both legs would strip Palladino of one of his most productive attacking options before a ball has been kicked in anger. The Belgian is not alone in the treatment room: Kamaldeen Sulemana is already confirmed out for at least two months with a serious knee injury, meaning Atalanta's forward line is being tested before the season has formally begun.
De Ketelaere, 25, finished the 2025-26 Serie A campaign with three goals and five assists across 31 appearances, carrying an average match rating of 7.20 — figures that reflect consistent contribution rather than explosive output. His value to Atalanta is less about volume and more about the quality of his involvement: an AI overall score of 73 out of 100, with a potential ceiling of 79, suggests a player still ascending rather than one who has plateaued. Losing him for the opening fixtures means Palladino must find that creative thread elsewhere, at least temporarily.
Atalanta closed 2025-26 in seventh place on 59 points from 38 matches — a record of 15 wins, 14 draws and nine defeats, with 51 goals scored and 36 conceded. The club has been active in the transfer window: Norwegian defender Rasmus Kristensen has arrived from Udinese, and Noa Lang is reportedly being pursued. The squad is being reshaped, but the injury to De Ketelaere is a reminder that depth in attack remains the most pressing concern.
How quickly De Ketelaere recovers will shape Atalanta's early rhythm — in Europe and in the league — more than any signing made in the coming days.