Ademola Lookman is currently in London, training alone as his situation with Atalanta, from whom he requested a transfer, unfolds. According to ‘Gazzetta dello Sport’, ‘La Dea’ refuses to sell him to Inter and will only accept an offer from abroad.
Although Inter Milan might not have wished for this, their pursuit of Ademola Lookman has become a full-blown summer saga. Atalanta are refusing to sell the winger to another Serie A club, and the player feels the club has gone back on its word, even making a public transfer request.
The dispute is proving difficult to manage. On one hand, the 28-year-old Nigerian asserts that ‘La Dea’ promised to let him leave if a suitable offer arrived. And for Lookman, that was the bid from Inter, who reportedly offered €42 million plus three in add-ons. The player even had a verbal agreement to sign a contract worth €4.5 million per season until 2030.
However, Atalanta maintain that the agreement was only valid if the move was to a foreign club. Yet, neither the Premier League nor Saudi Arabia, current potential destinations, have enquired about him. Furthermore, the winger’s sole desire is to join Inter, having even turned down an approach from Napoli, who offered him more – €5 million – than the ‘Nerazzurri’.
Resolving this disagreement is proving challenging. ‘La Dea’ is reluctant to sell to a direct rival, but reconciliation will not be straightforward either. Ademola Lookman reported for the first day of pre-season but did not join the training camp with the squad, instead opting to train alone in Portugal. Now, according to ‘Gazzetta dello Sport’, he has moved to London to continue his personal fitness regime for the 2025-26 season.
From a distance, Inter Milan is observing the situation, still awaiting a response from Atalanta regarding their latest offer. The Bergamo club’s refusal is absolute, while the ‘Nerazzurri’ dream of the Nigerian winger complementing Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez. The player shares this ambition, but ‘La Dea’ holds the ultimate authority and owns his rights.