Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini admits Josip Ilicic has again stepped away from the game due to depression.
Ilicic had been on the verge of retirement in 2020.
“It is never easy for me to talk about a situation like this, because it is very personal. I can only say we will always be close to him, because these are situations that go beyond football, beyond the profession," the coach told Sky Italia.
“We have known him for many years, had many happy moments together. I can say he is a very normal, positive person, but the insides of our minds are like a jungle. It's tough for psychiatrists to work out what's going on, let alone for us.
“I just hope he can return and rediscover some joy playing on the pitch."
Gasperini added: “He knows as a person we'll wait for him forever. As a player, I cannot answer that, it's all very unpredictable and delicate."
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