Valencia have continued to shed senior players.

Italian fullback Cristiano Piccini has left Los Che for a return to Serie A with Atalanta.

Piccini joins La Dea on a season-long loan.

Piccini, who has a deal with VCF to 2022, missed last season after suffering a serious knee injury. But he has now fully recovered, taking part in Valencia's preseason.

In their statement, Valencia thanked Piccini for "his sacrifice and effort in recent seasons" and wished the player "the best of luck" for this new season.

Piccini arrived at the Valencian club from Sporting CP in 2018 in an operation worth around €8m.