Tag: Ademola Lookman

Ademola Lookman has reportedly left Portugal and is in London, continuing to go AWOL from Atalanta training while hoping Inter will be able to do a deal.

The striker severed all ties with La Dea last week, removing any mention of them from his social media accounts, then posting a lengthy statement where he insisted he had “no choice” but to storm out after the €45m including add-ons offer was rejected.

He then failed to turn up to training for several days in a row, but unlike Teun Koopmeiners last summer when trying to force through a move to Juventus, Lookman did not even provide a medical certificate to explain his absence.

Read Also: Yachine Trophy : Nnadozie celebrates Ballon d’Or nomination

This might make his case a little more difficult if the player and club end up taking legal action.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, he had been in Portugal over the last few days with his family, but has now travelled to London.

Lookman is said to be training by himself to keep in shape during pre-season, as he hopes Inter will eventually manage to agree terms with Atalanta.

He had already started pre-season training on July 15 with a calf problem and therefore did not participate in any matches under new coach Ivan Juric.

Ademola Lookman has reportedly rejected the idea of joining Arsenal, as he is waiting for another move by Inter Milan.

Lookman continues to refuse to join La Dea’s training camp and according to what has been reported by Sportal, the Atalanta man is holding out for Cristian Chivu’s side to submit an acceptable offer.

Inter have already had a first offer refused for the former Fulham man, with the Bergamo side wanting at least €50 million for his signature.

Read Also: NFF  names Mary Akinsola  Super Falcons’ Media Officer

The reports claimed  that Arsenal had been willing to table a €52 million bid for the Nigerian but the player himself has no intention of joining anyone but Inter, with whom he has already reportedly reached an agreement on salary and personal terms.

The ball is firmly in Inter’s court now and Chivu’s team will have to up their bid if they are to secure their target.

Ademola Lookman‘s push to leave Atalanta has turned into one of the summer’s most heated transfer sagas after the Nigerian winger skipped training for three straight days.

This follows the Serie A club reportedly frustrating his move to join their Italian rivals, Inter Milan, who have tabled several offers to secure the player.

His actions have drawn sharp criticism from the Bergamo faithful, while Atalanta maintain they will not sell to a Serie A rival unless their €50m valuation is met.

With the clock ticking on the transfer window, a failed move could force Lookman back into a dressing room where trust has been shattered.

The 27-year-old could face a frosty reception and a series of damaging consequences that might affect his career should the exit from the Gewiss Stadium fail.

Read Also: NFF lauds  Adeniyi on election as Chairperson of WCO

Atalanta are already preparing to hit Lookman with significant financial penalties for skipping training and allegedly leaving the country without authorisation.

Such fines could run into thousands of euros, as the club views his absence as a clear breach of contract.

Meanwhile, while Atalanta are preparing to fine Lookman, no official fine has yet been imposed, according to Onefootball.

The Bergamo club has hinted at taking the matter to court, which could open a lengthy and public legal battle. Such disputes can damage a player’s reputation, thereby making other clubs wary of potential off-field issues.

If Lookman stays, he could find himself benched or excluded from matchday squads entirely. This would limit his opportunities to showcase his ability, especially with crucial fixtures coming up in both Serie A and Europe.

Ademola Lookman shows no signs of returning to Atalanta in the near future, but Inter’s decision on whether or not to increase their recently-rejected €45m bid for the Nigeria international depends on La Dea’s asking price, according to multiple Italian news outlets.

In an interesting development, however, Lookman  has reportedly flew out of Italy.

Italian journalist Nebuloni reported that the player has left his home in Bergamo and most likely left Italy.

The Super Eagles forward has not communicated his destination to Atalanta but it’s believed that he has retired to a more peaceful place to recover from a calf injury.

Lookman is currently refusing to train with Atalanta after seeing a €45m bid from Inter turned down last week. The 27-year-old has handed in a transfer request, and has recently released a long statement claiming that he had an agreement that Atalanta would let him leave if an appropriate offer came in for him this summer.

Read Also: NFF urged to secure 18-year-old Nigeria-Argentina born River Plate star Jonathan Asuzu

Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi has confirmed that there was in fact an agreement to let Lookman leave, but only for a top European club and importantly, one that is outside of Serie A.

According to  Corriere dello Sport as quoted by Football Italia, Inter are waiting to hear  from Atalanta regarding a specific price tag for teams within Serie A, given their reluctance to sell to a direct competitor in the same league.

It has not yet been ruled out either way, whether Inter will return with a new bid or decide to walk away from the deal if Atalanta’s valuation is considered excessive.

Lookman has missed  trainings this week  fuelling speculations  that Atalanta can withhold his salary based on the labour laws in Italy.

La Dea clear air on blocked Inter  deal

The future of Ademola Lookman is now hanging in the balance after the  Nigeria international Striker stayed away  from Atalanta’s pre-season  training yesterday  as La Dea confirmed  they   will not sanction his  bid  to cross over  to Inter Milan or any other  Serie A rivals  for that matter.

Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi  reportedly said as much  during the unveiling  of the club’s new goalkeeper Marco Sportiello, adding the club  based on previous agreements,  would not allow  Lookman a switch to any rival Italian Serie A team.

At the weekend, Lookman expressed his growing frustration over his potential  transfer  in a long social media post  where  he  accused  Atalanta   of ‘blocking the opportunity for reasons I do not understand’ to join Inter. He further slammed the club  for treating him poorly ‘as a human being and as a professional footballer’ after Atalanta   rejected an offer of €45m including bonuses from Inter.

But Percassi  has reportedly   gave an update  on the on-going transfer saga which is coming on the heels of the long-drawn  battle  before  Victor Osimhen completed  his transfer  from Napoli to Galatasaray  just last week.  

 “It’s a good opportunity to clarify what happened,” Percassi told the media, via TMW as per Football Italia.  “Last year, after a 20 million offer from PSG, the player had asked us to be sold.

 “Atalanta, being a credible club, had promised to sell the player this window based on two conditions that he himself had asked of us: First, to go to a super, top European club, and that he would never be seen in Italy wearing a shirt other than Atalanta’s, given what he did for the club and what he received from the club.

Read Also: NFF urged to secure 18-year-old Nigeria-Argentina born River Plate star Jonathan Asuzu

 “Today, as you know, the situation is very different. The club is always careful when evaluating the value and timing of its players, but as always, it is Atalanta, the club that decides.”

But the  27-year-old  Nigerian who is under contract until June 2027,  is seemingly pissed  with the  situation  as he reportedly  failed  to show up at  Atalanta’s Zingonia training ground  yesterday for pre-season commitments.

According to Football Italia,  Lookman’s refusal to attend training will further bring matters to a head, as Inter hope they can convince Atalanta by increasing their proposal of €42m plus €3m in add-ons.

This gesture just makes it clear how aggressive the action taken by Lookman is becoming, and it remains to be seen how his club will respond.

Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has expressed frustration with Atalanta, accusing the Serie A side  of ‘blocking the opportunity for reasons I do not understand’ to join Inter.

According to Lookman, the club’s refusal to allow his departure flies in the face of previous promises that he would be permitted to leave if a fair offer was made.

In a heartfelt and pointed statement released via his social media handle, Lookman expressed  his desire to seek a new challenge has been met with resistance from Atalanta, despite concrete interest from other clubs.

 “Despite now receiving an offer in alignment to what I believe had been discussed, sadly the club are blocking the opportunity for reasons I do not understand,” Lookman revealed. “After many months of broken promises and what I feel has been poor treatment towards me both as a human being and a professional footballer, I feel I have no choice but to speak out. Enough is enough.”

The 26-year-old winger underlined his commitment to Atalanta during his three-year stay, saying he gave “absolutely everything” to the club both on and off the pitch. He described his time in Bergamo as special, referencing unforgettable memories such as lifting the Europa League trophy with his teammates in Dublin — a moment he called one of the proudest of his career.

But Lookman now feels his chapter in Italy should come to a respectful close. He noted that both he and the club’s ownership had agreed in prior discussions that he would be allowed to move on when the right opportunity came — an agreement he now claims Atalanta has walked back on.

Read Also: NFF urged to secure 18-year-old Nigeria-Argentina born River Plate star Jonathan Asuzu

 “I’ve loved every moment, but I feel that now, after three wonderful years, it’s time to move on and experience a new adventure,” he wrote. “There have been numerous approaches in the past and I stayed loyal. But the club were clear: if a fair offer came, I would be allowed to go. That offer has come — and yet here we are.”

Over the weekend, Atalanta reportedly rejected a second bid from rivals Inter Milan for the Nigerian forward. The Nerazzurri’s first offer of €40 million was not accepted by La Dea, who have now turned down an improved bid of €45 million including add-ons.

Lookman  has now a spoken of his pain at having to make his frustrations public but said he felt compelled to do so due to the lack of progress and perceived disrespect behind the scenes.

 “Even throughout extremely difficult moments, many of which have remained private, I have always put the club, the fans, and the team first. But unfortunately, I feel there is now little choice.”

Lookman expressed gratitude and regret to the Atalanta supporters: “To the fans — the heartbeat of this club — I’m truly sorry it’s come to this. I hope you can understand this incredibly difficult situation. It’s simply about standing up for what I believe is fair and right.”

As it stands, Ademola Lookman’s future remains uncertain, but his stance is clear: after three years of service, he wants to leave Atalanta for a fresh challenge — and is deeply disappointed by the club’s decision to block that move.

Inter has set its sights on Ademola Lookman. Or rather, would have secured him already, if not for the fact that dealing with Atalanta is never straightforward.

Year after year, the Bergamo club proves adept at unearthing hidden gems, rough diamonds that, in time, are polished into stars and sold for massive profits. These funds are then reinvested intelligently, on young players, strengthening the squad while ensuring financial stability. After the departures of Retegui and Ruggeri, the next two players likely to leave Bergamo, bringing another windfall to the club, are Ederson and Lookman.

Read Also: NFF extends tenure of NPFL, NNL, NLO boards

The former Leicester City forward is Inter’s top priority to reinforce their attacking line. Coach Cristian Chivu sees him as the perfect partner for Lautaro Martínez, captain of the Nerazzurri. Lookman offers a variety of solutions: once deployed mainly as a winger, he has flourished at Atalanta in multiple roles, attacking midfielder, winger, and striker. The numbers speak volumes: 52 goals and 21 assists in 118 matches.

That’s nearly a goal every other game, and when you factor in the assists, his impact becomes even more striking, a clear testament to his value under Gian Piero Gasperini. It’s precisely this consistent performance level that has drawn Inter’s attention. Chivu’s team is undergoing a transformation.

A new project is being built under a young coach with little top-level managerial experience, but extensive on-pitch pedigree. Chivu has the leadership to manage high-profile players, yet starting a new era at a club like Inter inevitably involves risks.

Ademola Lookman has removed all traces of Atalanta from his social media profiles after seeing a €45m bid from Inter formally turned down by his current employers on Friday.

The Nigerian international has already agreed personal terms with Christian Chivu’s side, but the Nerazzurri have not yet agreed a deal with Atalanta, who remain adamant that they will not sell for a fee below the €50m mark.

The most recent Inter offer stood at a reported €42m plus €3m in bonuses for a total of €45m, but Atalanta gave a formal response on Friday, informing the Nerazzurri that the offer is not sufficient.

Read Also: NFF to partner  with FRSC for International Youth Day programme

Since then, Lookman has made the decision to remove all traces of his time with Atalanta from his social media profiles.

His Instagram bio now reads: ‘Football player for Nigeria’, without mentioning his club, his profile picture has been removed and practically every photograph of him representing La Dea has been taken down as well.

It remains to be seen whether Inter will come back in with another improved offer for the reigning African Player of the Year.