Reigning African Footballer of the Year, Ademola Lookman, has escalated tensions with his club Atalanta by refusing to attend training on Monday, a clear sign of his desire to leave the Bergamo-based side this summer, Nigeriasoccernet.com can report.
The Nigerian international is reportedly pushing for a move to 2025 UEFA Champions League finalists Inter Milan, who recently tabled an offer worth €45 million, including add-ons. However, Atalanta have turned down the proposal, holding out for a fee in the region of €50 million.
Lookman’s absence from training came just a day after he publicly criticized the club’s management. On Sunday, the Galatasaray-born winger took to Instagram to confirm he had submitted a formal transfer request. In his statement, Lookman claimed he was ready for a new chapter in his career but accused Atalanta of obstructing his exit “for reasons I do not understand.”
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano also confirmed the development on X (formerly Twitter).
Despite the player’s frustrations, Atalanta remains firm in their stance. The club insists that while there is an agreement in principle to let the 26-year-old leave, it does not include a transfer to domestic rivals. CEO Luca Percassi addressed the media to clarify the situation.
“Let me explain the full picture,” Percassi said, speaking through the Italian outlet TMW. “Last year, PSG came in with a €20 million offer. The player wanted to leave then, and we made a verbal agreement with two clear conditions: he could only go to a top-tier European club, and he would never play for another team in Italy aside from Atalanta, out of respect for what we both gave each other.”
Percassi emphasized that the current circumstances differ significantly and reiterated that the club retains full control over any transfer decisions. Meanwhile, Lookman had already wiped all Atalanta-related content from his social media accounts ahead of his public outburst, further signaling his dissatisfaction.
A follow-up statement from Atalanta added that the so-called gentleman’s agreement mentioned by Lookman stemmed from informal talks a year ago, and not from any formal, binding clause.
“The promises referenced by the player were made during a brief interaction with PSG. No substantial negotiation ever followed, and the figures discussed then fell well short of Atalanta’s valuation,” the club explained.
Lookman, who has previously featured for Everton, Fulham, Leicester City, and RB Leipzig, played a key role in Atalanta's success last season, including their UEFA Europa League triumph. However, with the breakdown in relations now public, his future at the club appears increasingly uncertain.