Amad and Dejan Kulusevski are two players who have come from Atalanta and played for some of Europe's biggest teams but Lukáš Vorlický believes he could have followed them
Lukas Vorlicky has struggled to follow in the footsteps of Amad and Dejan Kulusevski after leaving Atalanta
Lukas Vorlicky has struggled to follow in the footsteps of Amad and Dejan Kulusevski after leaving Atalanta
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Slavia Prague winger Lukáš Vorlický has insisted that he could have followed Amad to Premier League giants Manchester United if it weren't for injuries plaguing his football career. The 23-year-old progressed through the academies of Czech sides Boskovice and Zbrojovka Brno before signing for Atalanta in 2017.
After impressing with the Italian side's Primavera and Under-17s, Vorlický made his professional debut in a 2-1 Serie A defeat to Lecce in February 2023. He played a further seven minutes across the next two games against AC Milan and Udinese before suffering a serious knee injury.
Not long after that, he moved back to the Czech Republic with Slavia Prague, while the likes of Amad and Dejan Kulusevski joined Europe's top teams. United paid £19million for Amad when he was 18, in October 2020, with him joining the club under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in January 2021.
After loan spells with Rangers and Sunderland, the Ivory Coast star is now a key member of Ruben Amorim's side. Kulusevski was snapped up by Juventus in 2020 after being awarded the Serie A Best Young Player of the Season.
Two years later, the Sweden international joined Tottenham on an 18-month loan, before that switch was made permanent. Both players, when fit, are regulars in the Premier League for their sides.
In total, Vorlický endured five knee surgeries in seven years during his spell at Atalanta. Since returning to Prague, he has only managed 14 games for the first-team, and an additional 10 for their B side, with injuries further limiting his availability.
Amad (right) is an important player at Man Utd.
Amad (right) is an important player at Man Utd.
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Speaking with the Czech newspaper DNES, Vorlický has opened up about his terrible luck and how he believes he could have joined Amad and Kulusevski at United or Tottenham. "I don't want this to sound cocky, but yes," he said when asked if he could play at the same level as the pair.
"People have been telling me since I was a child that I could grow up and to be a great footballer. Even more so at Atalanta, because everyone at the club believed in me.
Dejan Kulusevski spent time at Atalanta before moving to Juventus.
Dejan Kulusevski spent time at Atalanta before moving to Juventus.
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"But I was also always aware that I was a boy from Boskovice who used to go to the gravel pitch with his friends after school to kick a ball." Asked if he blames previous doctors for his unfortunate injuries, he added: "Why? He's only human.
"He operated on ten people that day, I got bad luck, that happens, I can't change it. Who knows what would have happened if I had been healthy? I'm humanly happy. Would I have been the same if I had continued? I have no idea. I'm just sorry that I didn't play."
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