Ademola Lookman's story with Atalanta takes a terrible turn as Inter Milan move continues to stall

Ademola Lookman is pushing for an exit from Atalanta as Inter Milan eye a move. (Image credits - Heute, License Details)

Ademola Lookman had handed in a transfer request to Atalanta weeks ago after he accused the club of not keeping their promises that were made to him. The Nigerian international is strongly pushing for an exit this summer, with Inter Milan pursuing his signature.

The Nigerian international has accused the club of denying him permission to leave after a verbal agreement between the two parties, which is claimed to have been made a few months ago. This agreement would have allowed Lookman to easily leave the club and sign for Inter Milan, which is the 27-year-old's preferred next destination.

The Nigerian had even publicly stated that the club had completely agreed to sell him this summer if a lucrative offer landed on their table, with Inter agreeing to pay Atalanta's £52 million asking price for him.

However, Atalanta’s CEO, Luca Percassi, has hit back at the forward for his public accusations aimed at the club, stating that the verbal agreement for allowing Lookman an easy transfer elsewhere was conditional, which was not applicable for a move to a Serie A rival club, which in this case is Internazionale.

Atalanta betrayed a “gentlemen’s agreement” with Ademola Lookman 

Ademola Lookman had become Atalanta's hero back in June 2024, when he bagged a sensational hattrick in the final of the UEFA Europa League against an invincible Bayer Leverkusen side to lead his team to only their second-ever trophy and first-ever European title.

However, the roots of this ongoing dispute between the player and the club began just a month after the Europa League final, in the transfer window of the previous summer, when the Nigerian international had received a stunning offer from Paris Saint-Germain, following his heroics in the UEL.

As per reports by GOAL, Lookman was ready to accept terms with PSG, but the Italian club refused to let him leave and promised him that they would allow him to leave easily this summer if he agreed to extend his stay for another season, which he did.

The 27-year-old, as a result, feels heavily betrayed now, as Atalanta are adamant about not letting him leave for a rival club of the Italian giants. Lookman has set his mind on a move to Inter Milan this summer and has already rejected approaches from Napoli and Atletico Madrid.

The star winger has even refused to participate in squad training sessions while also opting out of the preseason with Atalanta as a sign of protest and an attempt to push for an exit at any cost this summer.

However, Lookman could now be set for major disciplinary actions at Atalanta, potentially similar to what fellow Nigerian Victor Osimhen had faced after a huge fallout with Napoli, where he was completely banished from the squad before he eventually secured a move to Galatasaray.