SUPER Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has accused Atalanta of blocking his transfer move, despite what he claimed was a clear agreement that he would be allowed to leave the club if a suitable offer arrived.
In a statement issued on Sunday, August 3, Lookman confirmed he has formally submitted a transfer request after what he described as ‘many months of broken promises’ and ‘poor treatment’ by the club’s management.
The 27-year-old winger, who has been strongly linked with a move to the Italian Serie A club Inter Milan in recent weeks, said he has remained loyal to Atalanta over the past three seasons but now feels it is time to pursue a new adventure.
“Over the past three years at Atalanta, l’ve given everything. Not just as a footballer, but as a person. I’ve always worn the shirt with pride and tried to represent this club and the city of Bergamo with heart, passion, and dedication.
“I came here with the hope of helping this special club grow, and together, we’ve created memories that will stay with me forever. Winning the Europa League and standing shoulder to shoulder with my teammates that night in Dublin, celebrating with our fans, was one of the proudest moments of my career so far. It still gives me goosebumps thinking about it,” he wrote in a statement posted on his X handle today.
According to reports, Inter had identified Lookman as a key attacking target following his sensational form in the previous seasons with Atlanta, which included a hat-trick in the UEFA Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen.
Talks had reportedly progressed, but Atalanta’s reluctance to sanction the move has now put the transfer in doubt.
On August 1, Fabrizio Romano, one of the best football transfer journalists, reported that, “Atalanta have just informed Inter about their decision to reject €42m plus €3m add-ons bid for Ademola Lookman.”
Lookman has also been reported to have agreed on personal terms with Inter Milan.
According to reports, Atalanta has several times insisted on €50m valuation for Lookman.
Speaking on Lookman’s proposed move from the club, Atalanta’s CEO Luca Percassi has reportedly said, “Lookman wants to leave since long time ago. We have a proposal from Inter, but it’s us deciding timing and valuation for our players”.
“We have a good relationship and we will consider the proposal with our timing”.
Speaking further on his dispute to leave, Lookman expressed deep gratitude to Atalanta fans for their support and memories, saying the bond they created would remain special.
However, he stressed that the club has been blocking his transfer despite prior agreement.
“There have been numerous clubs approached Atalanta in the past, and I have previously always stayed loyal. However, the ownership of the club has been in agreement that now is the right time, and the club was clear with me that if a fair offer came in, they would allow me to move.
“Despite now receiving an offer in alignment with what I believe had been discussed, sadly, the club is blocking the opportunity for reasons I do not understand.
“As a result, and after many months of broken promises and what I feel has been poor treatment towards me as both a human being and as a professional footballer, sadly, I feel I have no choice but to speak out for what I believe is right, and I feel that enough is enough. I can confirm I have now handed in a formal transfer request,” he wrote.
Since joining Atalanta in 2022 from RB Leipzig, Lookman has made 118 appearances across all competitions for the Bergamo-based side, scoring 52 goals and providing several assists.
One of his standout moments came in May 2024 when he netted a historic hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, securing Atalanta’s first-ever European title.
Mustapha Usman is an investigative journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: musman@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M