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Atalanta have officially announced the appointment of former Juventus and Napoli executive Cristiano Giuntoli as the club’s new Sporting Director, effective immediately.

“Atalanta BC are delighted to confirm the appointment of Cristiano Giuntoli — a football executive who has built a strong reputation at the highest level through his ability, knowledge and vision — to the club’s sporting structure as its new Sporting Director,” the club stated on its official website.

“Born in Florence, Giuntoli began his career in football management at the age of 36, eighteen years ago.

“After an early stint with Spezia, he played a key role in Carpi’s remarkable rise as Sporting Director, guiding them to four promotions in five years and leading the club from Serie D to its first-ever Serie A campaign.

“After six highly productive seasons in Emilia and a successful period that established him among Italy’s top football executives, Giuntoli joined Napoli in 2015. During his time there, he oversaw another successful chapter of his career, winning the Coppa Italia in the 2019/20 season and playing a major role in Napoli’s historic third Serie A title in 2022/23 — achievements that capped off his outstanding work at the club.

“He wrapped up his successful spell at Napoli as the reigning Italian champion before taking up the role of Managing Director of Football at Juventus in the summer of 2023, where he won the Coppa Italia during the first of his two seasons in Turin.”

“The Percassi and Pagliuca families, along with everyone at Atalanta BC, warmly welcome Sporting Director Giuntoli and wish him every success in his new role with the club,” the statement added.

The 54-year-old spent eight seasons with Napoli between 2015 and 2023 and was part of the leadership team that helped the club win its first Serie A title in more than three decades at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

Following that success, he joined Juventus, but his tenure in Turin lasted only two seasons before he was dismissed. Giuntoli has been without a club since the close of the 2024-25 season.

Among Giuntoli’s most notable signings at Napoli were Victor Osimhen, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia — signed for just €11.5 million — Kim Min-jae for around €18 million, Piotr Zielinski for €15 million, and Stanislav Lobotka for €20 million.

His recruitment record at Juventus was more mixed: Khephren Thuram, Francisco Conceicao and Pierre Kalulu were considered high-value acquisitions, while the costly deals for Douglas Luiz and Teun Koopmeiners — worth over €100 million combined — failed to deliver the expected results.