Okoli & Zortea, from the Academy to Serie A
The two former Academy youngsters played their maiden match for Atalanta's first team in Genoa
In the match away to Sampdoria, two more players from our Academy realized a lifelong dream: to make their first Atalanta senior appearance in Serie A. It was certainly an unforgettable moment for Caleb Okoli and Nadir Zortea, as the two played their first game in the top flight in the Atalanta shirt after the years spent in the Academy. This was also Okoli's Serie A debut, while Zortea had already made his debut in the Salernitana shirt last season.
Okoli, a defender born in 2001 who joined Atalanta at the Under-15 level, started in the match, while Zortea, who is a 1999-born defender who joined the squad when he was 15 years old, came on in the second half as he replaced Mæhle. It is a source of great satisfaction and pride for the Club to see two players who have come up through the ranks from Atalanta’s Academy to the first team cross such an important milestone.