Atalanta Give Hands Off Warning to Crystal Palace & Watford in Race for Star Defender Rafael Toloi

Crystal Palace and Watford have been dealt a major blow in their chase for Atalanta defender Rafael Toloi, with the club insisting he is not for sale.

The former Under-20 Brazil international defender caught the eye for Atalanta last term, as the club secured an unprecedented fourth place finish in Serie A.

Amidst interest from both Premier League clubs as well as Inter Milan, Atalanta have - according to ​Clubcall - declared the centre-back 'unsellable' after the 26-year-old’s performances helped his side achieve their best ever season in Serie A, racking up 21 wins and 72 points.

Following the departure of Walter Mazzarri and Sam Allardyce from their respective clubs at the end of last season, Watford and Crystal Palace are expected to be aggressive in the transfer market this summer in order to avoid the relegation scares that threatened to derail their campaigns last term.

However, after a superb season at Atalanta in which the former Roma loanee, whose current contract runs until 2018, made 31 appearances and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is reportedly anxious to secure the tough tackling Brazilian’s services for at least another season.