Mateo Retegui will probably not forget February 8, 2025 anytime soon. That’s when the Bergamo striker scored four goals in a 5-0 win at Hellas Verona.
Atalanta Bergamo shot their way out of the cup frustration – quarter-final exit in the Coppa Italia after the 0-1 against Bologna – on Saturday at Hellas Verona. Top scorer Retegui in particular was in a scoring mood. The 25-year-old turned three times to celebrate in the first 45 minutes. He scored twice after hitting the post (21st, 44th) and once he got the better of Hellas goalkeeper Montipo with a dry finish (25th). Since Ederson also crowned his fine solo effort in the 37th minute, the game was already decided before half-time.
After the restart, La Dea took their foot off the gas, but one of them still hadn’t had enough: Retegui made the final score 5-0 with his fourth goal after de Roon’s flat input.
With this hat-trick, the 18-time Italian international extended his lead in the scoring charts (five goals more than his closest rival Moise Kean): Retegui, who scores on average every 66 minutes in the league, currently has 20 goals in 22 games. “An incredible number, extraordinary when the team is dominating and when they don’t have to defend, Mateo is extraordinary,” said Bergamo coach Gian Piero Gasperini.
Captain de Roon even called for a name change because of the goal tally. “In the Netherlands we have the word ‘retegoed’, which means ‘damn good’, and I think I’ll start a petition to change Retegui’s name to ‘retegoed’,” the Dutchman wrote on Twitter.
Gasperini still sees “room for improvement”
In all the enthusiasm, however, Gasperini also reminded his protégé of his weakness. Retegui still has “room for improvement” when his team is not dominating. He will probably not have to work on this in the coming weeks – at least in the league. In the next three Serie A games, the Bergamasque team will face the relegation candidates Cagliari (17th), Empoli (16th) and Venice (19th).
