Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman is in hot water at Atalanta after his dream move to Inter Milan collapsed dramatically.
The winger staged a two-week training strike to push for the transfer, even deleting Atalanta photos from his social media. Inter had already agreed personal terms with him on a five-year deal, but Atalanta’s CEO Antonio Percassi stood firm, refusing to sell to a Serie A rival.
That decision infuriated Lookman, who accused the club of breaking their promise to let him go. Atalanta rejected Inter’s final €45m bid, forcing the Nerazzurri to walk away and leaving Lookman stranded.
Now, Atalanta are preparing to hit him with heavy sanctions, fines, docked wages, and even a possible public apology. The club were unimpressed by his strike and his decision to go AWOL without explanation.
Yet, the situation isn’t so straightforward. Head coach Ivan Juric fears the team could “lose 90% of their goals” if Lookman also leaves after the shock sale of Mateo Retegui. That means while the club want to punish him, they also know they can’t afford to lose his firepower—especially with AFCON 2025 on the horizon for Nigeria’s star man.
This saga has left Lookman in a tight corner: discipline is certain, but Atalanta still need him, and he must stay sharp ahead of national team duty.
