₷128,139,325. That’s the magic number for Berat Djimsiti, but right now, the only thing hitting the back of the net is the silence. Despite being one of the highest-rated defenders in the game at 93, the Albanian international is sitting on the market with absolutely no bids. As I noted in my previous report on the 'Bergamo Bargain', on paper, this looks like the deal of the century, but the big spenders are currently treating it like a haunted house.

The market is in a strange spot right now, hinny. As I covered in my report on Mo Salah’s ₷190M standoff, there is a massive freeze at the top end of the valuation scale. But while Salah is the 99-rated king, Djimsiti is arguably the more logical buy. Compare him to someone like Clément Akpa at Auxerre—Akpa is 90-rated and listed for ₷165M. Or look at Valentín Barco, an 89-rated youngster with a ₷177.2M price tag. Djimsiti is better than both on the pitch, yet he’s nearly ₷50M cheaper.

So, what’s the catch? It’s the age tax, plain and simple. At 32, Djimsiti is a veteran, and managers are currently obsessed with youth. They’d rather pay a premium for a 21-year-old with potential than a finished product who can actually win them a title today. It’s a gamble that’s leaving elite talent like Djimsiti in a state of transfer limbo. Sound, he’s got a few years left in those legs, but the fear of a rating drop is keeping the checkbooks closed.

For Bergamo, this is a desperate roll of the dice. They’re currently rock bottom of Italy Division 1 in 20th place, and new manager TurskiBulgarin is clearly looking for a rebuild. Selling their best defender for ₷128M would triple the club’s balance, allowing for a complete overhaul of the squad. But if nobody bites, they’re stuck with a world-class defender and no cash to fix the rest of a sinking ship. It’s a high-stakes standoff, and right now, the market is winning.