POTM Lete: Retegui waves the manita in April!
Crowned by the Atalanta fans on the official app
"Under the reign of Mateo V, the sun never sets", never had a saying been more fitting! After standalone wins in August and October and the January/February back-to-back, the Player of the Month diet has crowned El Chapita once again, as he notches title number five in the POTM Roll of Honour and reclaims the Lete crown. Or, to stick with the imperial theme, a mantle that seems tailor-made for our number 32. No luck for the contenders Carnesecchi and Éderson: the sceptre remains firmly in Retegui's grip!
At the outset of this month's pageant, we hinted at how April represented a true "trial of strength" for Atalanta. And with that image as a launchpad, we begin our deep dive into the dossier dedicated to this month's winner by spotlightning the play that perhaps best captures such spirit.
Ironically, and even more paradoxically considering the trademark of this month's standout, it wasn't a goal what stole the show, but rather an assist. A detail that turn even more meaningful when talking about a true fox-in-the-box such as Mateo Retegui, who in April, matched the legendary record of 24 Serie A goals in a single season for Atalanta, first set by Filippo Inzaghi nearly two decades ago.
And yet, in this instance, it's the final pass, or rather the relentless sequence that led up to it, that captures the essence of the moment. After striking early on 3 minutes with one of his trademark poacher goal to give Atalanta the lead, Mateo donned the wingman cape in a pursuit of sheer garra, of that blend of grit, tenacity and unwavering hunger to make a difference, perfectly summed up by the "Always sweat the shirt" mantra.
After muscling through a first challenge from Lucumì, the number 32 sprang back on his feet and took on the Felsinean defender in a brawny encore before surging down the right flank and firing in a pinpoint assist for Pašalić to double the lead.
Silver medal this month goes to outgoing POTM Marco Carnesecchi, who came agonizingly close to repeating his triumph in April. Yet, much like the opposing defences last month, our number 29 couldn't keep the Player of the Month crown from slipping through his fingers, as he too met his Waterloo under the relentless attacks of Mateo, who was simply too much to handle. A much-deserved second place earned through his signature monstrous performances, with the Orobic goalkeeper not only proving his renowned resilience between the three posts but also dabbling with build-up play. In true sweeper-keeper fashion, it was in fact Marco who set the intricate web of passes in motion on the San Siro night!
Staying true to the theme, let's plunge in medias res to introduce the third contender of the month: Éderson! Just as he did on the Meazza ground, the Brazilian 13 soared with an angled dive onto the threshold of the Lete-branded contest. If the acrobactic finish that "exorcised the devil" served as the golden brooch, the scroll handed by graduating Dos Santos was littered with countless cum laude accolades: from his trademark recoveries, breaks and ranged shots to a whole host of joga bonito delicatessen ranging from roulettes and nutmegs, there’s no card Éderson hasn’t played in his relentless pursuit to challenge the two finalists this month.
In April, the table speaks loud and clear: "Royal flush" for Retegui! As always, Nerazzurri fans, we’ll see you at the next POTM breakthrough!