Lookman hits out at Atalanta over exit issues

Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has hit out at Atalanta, accusing the Serie A club of going back on promises made over his potential summer transfer

The Nigerian international issued a strongly worded statement on Sunday, confirming that he has formally submitted a transfer request following what he described as “many months of broken promises” and poor treatment.

Lookman, who played a pivotal role in Atalanta’s historic UEFA Europa League triumph in the 2023/24 season, said he has always represented the club with dedication and loyalty, both on and off the pitch.

“I’ve given absolutely 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,” the 27-year-old said, reflecting on his three-year spell in Bergamo.

The former Everton and Fulham winger recalled key highlights of his time in Italy, especially the club’s European success in Dublin, where he scored a memorable hat-trick in the final. He described that moment as “one of the proudest moments of my career” and said it still gives him “goosebumps thinking about it.”

However, he explained that despite his continued professionalism, issues have persisted behind the scenes.

Lookman said both he and the Atalanta hierarchy had previously agreed that this summer marked the right time to seek a new challenge, provided a fair offer came in.

“There have been numerous clubs that have approached Atalanta in the past, and I have previously always stayed loyal. However, myself and the ownership of the club have been in agreement that now is the right time, and the club were clear with me that if a fair offer came in, they would allow me to move,” he said.

Lookman now claims the club have reneged on that position.

“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,” he said.

He added that the decision to go public came only after exhausting private discussions, saying he felt compelled to speak out for the sake of transparency and fairness.

“I unfortunately feel there is now little choice,” Lookman wrote. “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.”

The tensions escalated over the weekend when Lookman unfollowed Atalanta on Instagram and deleted all posts related to the club. The online reaction followed Atalanta’s latest rejection of Inter Milan’s improved offer worth €42 million plus €3 million in add-ons, with the Bergamo side reportedly holding out for their full €50m valuation.

Lookman’s Instagram purge was extensive. The African Footballer of the Year removed the club’s name from his bio and deleted pictures of himself wearing the Atalanta jersey, including his profile photo. The developments underscore the breakdown in relations between the player and the club, with reports suggesting Lookman and Inter Milan have already agreed on personal terms.

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Atalanta informed Inter that their offer, which improved on an initial €40m bid, had again been rejected. The club are said to be insistent on the full asking price, including performance-related bonuses, partly because of a resale clause agreed during Lookman’s move from RB Leipzig in 2022. Under that deal, Leipzig are entitled to 10 per cent of any profit up to €20m and 15 per cent of the amount above that threshold.

With Inter now considering alternative targets, including Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku, Premier League clubs are also monitoring the situation, aware of the financial terms required to prise Lookman away from Bergamo.

The Nigerian international was also absent from Atalanta’s squad for their pre-season match against RB Leipzig in Germany on Saturday, further fuelling speculation that his time at the club is drawing to a close. Despite the public dispute, Lookman expressed gratitude to the Atalanta fans and said he remains hopeful of reaching a peaceful resolution.

“To the fans, the heartbeat of this club, I want to say this: 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,” he said.

He concluded with a plea for cooperation, “I hope to work together with the club to find an amicable solution for all parties as soon as possible.”

Lookman has scored 52 goals in 118 appearances for Atalanta since joining from Leipzig in 2022 for €10.8m. He remains a key figure in the club’s recent successes, including their first-ever European title achieved with a stunning 3–0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final.