Mateo Retegui, the top scorer in Italy's Serie A last season, has made a groundbreaking move to Saudi Pro League club Al-Qadsiah from Atalanta. Italian media reports indicate that Al-Qadsiah has paid over £56 million for the 26-year-old striker, who has signed a four-year contract. This fee makes Retegui the most expensive Italian player in history, surpassing Sandro Tonali's £55 million transfer to Newcastle from AC Milan in 2023.

Retegui, born in Argentina but representing Italy, joined Atalanta last summer from Genoa. He scored an impressive 25 league goals in 36 appearances, helping Atalanta secure a third-place finish in Serie A. Retegui made his debut for Italy in 2023, scoring in a 2-1 defeat by England, and has since netted six goals in 20 games for his country.

Atalanta expressed their gratitude in a statement: "The Percassi family, the Pagliuca family, and the entire Nerazzurri club sincerely thank Mateo for the extraordinary contribution he made last season and wish him the best for the continuation of his sporting career and for his future."

Al-Qadsiah, who finished fourth in the Saudi Pro League last season, will see Retegui replace former Arsenal, Barcelona, and Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The 36-year-old Gabon international left Al-Qadsiah last week and is reportedly close to signing for French Ligue 1 club Marseille.

This transfer marks a significant moment in Retegui's career and highlights the growing influence of the Saudi Pro League in attracting top talent from Europe's elite leagues.