Ademola Lookman, the Nigerian star winger and reigning African Player of the Year, has escalated his bid to leave Italian club Atalanta by refusing to attend training sessions, signaling a serious rift between player and club.
Lookman has formally submitted a transfer request after Atalanta rejected Inter Milan’s latest €45 million offer plus bonuses for the 27-year-old forward, who seeks a new challenge this summer.
The striker’s absence from training marks his third consecutive no-show, with reports indicating he has even removed his personal belongings from the club’s training ground in Bergamo. Atalanta remains firm on their €50 million valuation, influenced partly by a resale clause benefiting RB Leipzig, the club that sold Lookman to Atalanta in 2022. Inter Milan, meanwhile, are waiting for Lookman’s signal to renew contact and potentially improve their bid.
Lookman publicly expressed frustration at the “broken promises” from Atalanta, highlighting that both he and the club’s ownership had agreed a summer move would be granted if a fair offer arrived. Despite this agreement, which Lookman feels has been met, the club is blocking the transfer, leaving him with little choice but to go public and strike. He has taken the unusual step of deleting all Atalanta-related content from his social media accounts and unfollowing the club on Instagram.
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Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi clarified the club’s stance, explaining that a gentleman’s agreement existed from last year when PSG showed interest, but it was contingent on Lookman moving to a top European club outside Serie A. The club also stressed that these promises were not legally binding written clauses, but verbal assurances, highlighting the complexity of the situation.
Lookman’s agent suggested the player might pursue contract termination legally, citing precedents where players successfully challenged transfer and contract rules in European courts. However, Atalanta could also impose disciplinary measures, including withholding salaries, as the player has breached training obligations.
Having delivered memorable performances that propelled Atalanta to their first European title with a hat-trick in the 2024 Europa League final, Lookman has become a key figure at the club. Still, the impasse threatens to overshadow his legacy there, with his future now uncertain amid ongoing negotiations and growing tension.
This transfer saga underscores the challenges clubs and players face balancing business interests and career ambitions, particularly in the high-stakes environment of Serie A’s transfer market. For Lookman, the pressure to move on intensifies as the new season approaches, with Inter Milan and possibly Premier League clubs monitoring closely.
Pulse Sports
