Inter reach verbal agreement with Atalanta for Italy full-back Marco Palestra
What happened
Inter reached a verbal agreement with Atalanta to sign right-back Marco Palestra, according to Sky Sport Italia, following a decisive meeting between the clubs on June 18. The fee is reported at roughly €45m plus around €5m in bonuses for the 21-year-old, with the sides finalising details on add-ons and percentages; the move is agreed verbally rather than officially completed.
Palestra is earmarked to take over the right flank vacated by Denzel Dumfries, who is set to join Real Madrid. Italian reports add that the player had already turned down other suitors to wait for Inter.
Why it matters
Replacing Dumfries was one of Inter's clearest summer priorities, and securing a young, homegrown option rather than an established import marks a notable squad-planning choice. At a reported €50m all-in, Palestra would also rank among the window's pricier Serie A deals to date and a significant outlay for a player with limited top-flight mileage.
The agreement reflects Inter moving decisively in a market where several of their rivals' deals remain tied to outgoings still to be arranged.
Context
Palestra, an Atalanta academy product, spent the 2025-26 season on loan at Cagliari, where he impressed enough to break into the Italy national team set-up. Atalanta had held firm on a valuation around €50m, and earlier reporting indicated interest from Premier League clubs before Inter pushed the deal through.
The transfer is linked to Dumfries's expected departure to Real Madrid, part of the Spanish club's wider recruitment under José Mourinho, which has drawn several names away from elsewhere in Europe.
What to watch next
The immediate steps are the finalising of bonus structures and any sell-on clause, followed by medical and official confirmation. Also worth tracking is the timing relative to Dumfries's Madrid move, and whether Inter address further right-flank cover once Palestra's switch is signed off. Until the clubs announce it, the deal remains a verbal agreement rather than a completed transfer.