Atalanta Football Club CEO Antonio Percassi has clarified that Nigerian winger Ademola Lookman will only be allowed to leave the Serie A side this summer if the move is to a “super top club” outside of Italy.
Percassi made the statement on Monday, as quoted by football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on X, revealing that an agreement had been reached with Lookman a year ago when the club rejected a €20 million offer 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.”
This comes after Lookman publicly accused Atalanta of failing to honour the agreement surrounding his summer transfer. In a statement posted on Sunday, the Super Eagles forward confirmed he had submitted a formal transfer request, citing “many months of broken promises” and mistreatment by the club.
The 27-year-old expressed disappointment over the handling of his situation, despite what he described as unwavering commitment during his time in Bergamo.
“I’ve given absolutely everything—not just as a footballer, but as a person,” Lookman said. “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 played a key role in Atalanta’s historic UEFA Europa League triumph during the 2023/24 season, including scoring a hat-trick in the final. He has been linked with interest from top European clubs following his impressive performances for both club and country.
