Ademola Lookman has officially requested to leave Atalanta, citing what he describes as a breach of agreement regarding his future. The Nigerian forward shared a detailed message on Instagram, expressing frustration that the club is now preventing a move to Inter Milan despite an understanding that he would be allowed to depart if a suitable offer came in.
According to Lookman, he had been assured that he could exit the club during the summer transfer window should the right proposal arrive. However, Atalanta have reportedly rejected Inter’s bid, a decision Lookman says contradicts the commitment they made to him. He added that the reasons for blocking his transfer to Inter remain unclear to him.
Atalanta’s position: Only a foreign transfer was promised
In contrast to Lookman’s account, Atalanta sources, as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, claim the situation has a different backstory. The club maintains that a promise was made last summer, but it applied only to potential deals with non-Italian clubs.
The agreement in question dates back to when Lookman expressed interest in leaving amid a proposed transfer to Paris Saint-Germain. He had even requested to be left out of the UEFA Super Cup squad against Real Madrid to facilitate that possibility. At the time, Atalanta allegedly agreed to let him go — but only for an international move, not to a domestic rival.
Valuation dispute still ongoing
Atalanta’s reluctance to accept Inter’s proposal stems not only from the club’s domestic status but also from the financial terms of the offer. While Inter have submitted a package reportedly worth €42 million plus €3 million in add-ons, Atalanta are holding firm on a €50 million valuation.
The Bergamo side remains open to negotiating with clubs outside Italy, including Premier League or Ligue 1 sides such as Arsenal, Chelsea, or PSG — all of which would align with their interpretation of the agreement made with Lookman last year. Until a deal meets their terms, Atalanta are unlikely to move forward with any transfer to Inter.
