FORMER Atalanta head of football Lee Congerton was ridiculed for signing Rasmus Hojlund… until the Dane went on to move to Manchester United for a huge profit.
Hojlund, 21, had signed for Austrian side Sturm Graz in January 2022 after failing to hit the heights at FC Copenhagen.
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Just six months later Congerton had seen enough from the Dane to splash out £17million to sign him – to the disapproval of many observers around the club.
“The reality is they destroyed me in Italy during that time,” Welshman Congerton, 50, told the Telegraph.
“This foreign guy in Italian football has bought a player from Austria, born 2003, who had been a failure in Copenhagen.”
After just one goal in his first 11 Serie A appearances, Hojlund eventually caught fire – netting in his next three.
Having scored 10 goals for Atalanta in all competitions, he had shown enough promise for Man Utd to fork out £72m to sign him last August.
Congerton continued: “If you take away the World Cup, 10 months later, we sold him for €85 million (£72m). That is Atalanta. It’s simple.
“They know what they are. They rely on the academy and the scouting.”
Having played at semi-pro level in Wales, Congerton has gone on to forge a successful career in executive roles.
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Having worked with Frank Arnesen at Chelsea and Hamburg, Congerton went on to hold important positions at Sunderland, Celtic and Leicester.
He then spent two seasons at Atalanta, before leaving last month for a gig with Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli.
Congerton proudly watched from afar as Atalanta, featuring many of his signings, stunned Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield last week.
Following the conclusion of his Saudi adventure, whenever that may be, he would love another crack at working in England.
He added: “Frank always said he could see me going to different places. I have adventure in me and have been fortunate that my wife has been like that too in terms of trying something new.
“I could have stayed at each club longer but it was my choice. You get to three years and I think I need that stimulation. I like to grow things but am always excited by a new challenge.”
Like his start at Atalanta, Hojlund took a while to get going at United, failing to score in his first 14 Premier League matches.
He then hit an amazing hot streak, netting seven in his next six Prem outings.
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His old side Atalanta, meanwhile, replaced him with West Ham forward Gianluca Scamacca.
The 25-year-old has excelled since returning to Italy, bagging 14 goals thus far – including two at Anfield last week.
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