Atalanta CEO Antonio Percassi has stated that Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman will only be allowed to leave the club this summer if an offer comes from a “super top club” outside of Italy.
Speaking through a post shared by football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on Monday, Percassi disclosed that a prior agreement was made with Lookman last year when Atalanta rejected a €20 million bid from Paris Saint-Germain.
“The pact with Lookman was made one year ago when we rejected €20m from PSG,” Percassi said. “We told him: we’ll let you leave in 2025 for a super top club and not in Italy. Now, the situation [with Inter] is different and as always, it’s us deciding.”
Lookman, who joined Atalanta from RB Leipzig in 2022, has netted 52 goals in 117 appearances for the club. His future has come under the spotlight in recent days following a fallout with the Serie A side.
The 27-year-old Super Eagles star publicly accused Atalanta of failing to honour previous transfer promises. In a strongly worded message posted on Sunday, he confirmed he had formally submitted a transfer request, citing “many months of broken promises” and alleged unfair treatment.
Despite the ongoing tension, Lookman reaffirmed his respect for the club and the city of Bergamo, reflecting on his contributions particularly during their historic 2023/24 UEFA Europa League-winning campaign.
“I’ve given absolutely everything. Not just as a footballer, but as a person,” he wrote. “I’ve always worn the shirt with pride and tried to represent this club and the city of Bergamo with heart, passion, and dedication.”
Lookman famously scored his first career hat-trick in the 2024 Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin, sealing Atalanta’s first-ever European title.
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