A new season has also officially kicked off for the Under-17 team, as the squad met up this morning at the Centro Bortolotti at Zingonia to undergo the usual medical check-ups and physical tests, as provided by the FIGC Protocol.

Gianpaolo Bellini will be at the helm of the group made up of players born in 2006: this is his first experience as head coach after his seasons as assistant coach of the Under-19 team. “These years have been extremely important for my growth. Right now I am curious and excited, as well as eager to get started. The task is different, I will learn new things every day. I expect to work daily, trying to entertain the lads, making them understand that football is fun: there is hard work, there are a lot of components, but we should not forget that it is a game. We coaches have to support them and help them to grow. Improvement comes from daily work and the ability to overcome difficult times, which can happen to anyone. Each day the lads must say they have learnt something because you grow as long as you improve every day”.

The Youth and Scholastic Sector of the FIGC has disclosed the championship groups: Atalanta are in Group B alongside Brescia, Cagliari, Cittadella, Como, Cremonese, Hellas Verona, Inter, Milan, Monza, Spal, Sudtirol, Udinese and Venezia.