Ademola Lookman, the reigning African Player of the Year, finds himself embroiled in a transfer saga with his club, Atalanta. The Nigerian forward’s desire to join Inter Milan, the 2025 Champions League finalists, has clashed with Atalanta’s reluctance to sell him to a Serie A rival. This conflict has escalated into a public standoff, with Lookman skipping training and releasing a statement accusing the club of blocking his move.
The crux of the dispute lies in the differing interpretations of an agreement between Lookman and Atalanta. Lookman contends that he has a gentleman’s agreement with the club, allowing him to leave this summer if a suitable offer arrives. He believes Inter’s bid of €45 million, including bonuses, meets this criteria and that Atalanta is unfairly obstructing his desired transfer. Conversely, Atalanta argues that the agreement was contingent on two conditions: the offer coming from a top European club and Lookman committing not to join another Italian team. They maintain that Inter’s offer doesn’t meet their valuation and that selling him to a direct Serie A competitor violates their agreement with the player.
Atalanta’s CEO, Luca Percassi, has shed light on the club’s perspective, referencing a previous bid from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for Lookman. According to Percassi, Atalanta had promised Lookman they would sell him this summer if a top European club made an offer and he agreed not to play for another Italian team. This promise, according to Atalanta, was made in the context of the PSG offer, which Atalanta deemed too low at the time. The current Inter Milan offer isn’t viewed as meeting those initial conditions, especially considering Inter’s status as a Serie A rival.
Lookman’s public statement, released via Instagram, accuses Atalanta of “blocking the opportunity for reasons I do not understand.” He expresses his belief that it is “the right time to move on and experience a new adventure” and feels frustrated by the club’s stance. His absence from training underscores his commitment to forcing a move, while Atalanta remain equally resolute in their position. The deleted social media content related to Atalanta further highlights the breakdown in the relationship between the player and the club.
The “gentleman’s agreement” at the heart of this dispute remains ambiguous. Lookman feels he has fulfilled his end of the bargain, while Atalanta insists the current situation doesn’t align with the original agreement’s terms. The club’s statement clarifies that the agreement was verbal, not written, and related specifically to the PSG approach last summer. They argue the current Inter offer is significantly different and doesn’t warrant the same consideration.
The standoff continues with no resolution in sight. Lookman is determined to leave for Inter, while Atalanta are holding firm on their valuation and their interpretation of the agreement. The saga highlights the complex dynamics of player transfers, particularly when conflicting interpretations of agreements and competing interests are involved. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether a compromise can be reached or if this dispute will escalate further. The outcome will significantly impact Lookman’s future and potentially disrupt Atalanta’s plans for the upcoming season.
