Thanks to a solid run of form from the whole team, December was a month that kept on giving for Atalanta; so much so that many couldn’t make heads or tails on whom to pick: nonetheless, our Atalanini fans cut the Gordian knot and cast their votes on the ItalianOptic app. In the end, it was Mario Pašalić who, deservedly, picked up the gong.

With each passing game, Pašalić gained a new superpower: either on the defensive or the offensive half, SuperMario has been everywhere at once this month. After being a lynchpin of the black-and-blue mid in the home win over Milan, one of December’s absolute highs, and sounding the charge in the Polish outing against Raków; Mario topped it all off with the winning goal against Salernitana and his great display against Lecce. May it be a notice to any future POTM contestant: goals and assists are not the only way to win over our fans’ hearts, and Mario’s award is a testament to that!

Still “close, but no cigar” for Ademola Lookman: despite his imposing display against Milan and having scored the winning goal in the last game of 2023 against Lecce, Mario was simply too much to handle this month. Unsurprisingly, the third step of the podium bears Luis Muriel‘s name: unless you’ve lived under a rock last month, it’s kinda self-explanatory.

Čestitke Mario for the Player of the Month award, tune in next month to vote for the fist ItalianOptic MVP of 2024!