Marten De Roon has etched his name into Atalanta’s history books, officially becoming the club’s all-time leading appearance maker. This significant milestone was reached during a Serie A match against Hellas Verona.
On Sunday, March 22, 2026, the Dutch midfielder played his 436th game for the Bergamo-based club, thereby surpassing Gianpaolo Bellini’s long-standing record of 435 appearances. To commemorate this achievement, De Roon shared a heartfelt open letter with the fans, reflecting on his journey that began with his debut against Cittadella in August 2015.
In his message, De Roon conveyed his profound bond with the city and the club’s jersey, stating: “I say ‘our’ because from the very first day I felt your support, in the good moments and especially in the difficult ones. The way you always stand by me and the team, with passion and pride, moves me deeply. I truly feel connected to you fans, as if we face everything together.”
The midfielder also took the opportunity to honor Gianpaolo Bellini, the former captain whose record he now holds, referring to him as ‘a true man from Bergamo’ and an embodiment of what it means to represent Atalanta.
Despite reaching this historical peak, De Roon emphasized that his career is far from over, asserting that his drive to improve and bring more trophies to the club remains as strong as ever.
Since his arrival in the 2015/16 season, De Roon has also established new club records for the most Serie A appearances (332) and the most European competition appearances (75).
