Ademola Lookman’s standoff with Atalanta has taken a dramatic turn, with the Serie A club preparing to impose heavy sanctions on the Nigerian forward following his two-week training strike aimed at forcing a transfer to Inter Milan — a move that has now collapsed.
Lookman resurfaced at Atalanta’s Zingonia training ground on Tuesday, where he met with club CEO Antonio Percassi to discuss his future. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter have formally withdrawn their interest, leaving the forward in limbo and facing disciplinary consequences.
The saga, which dragged on for weeks, saw Inter and Atalanta engaged in tense negotiations. Inter had agreed personal terms with Lookman, tabling a five-year contract, but Percassi held firm, refusing to sanction a move to another Italian club. Although Lookman had been assured he could leave in 2025, Atalanta stood by their stance that such a promise did not extend to a direct rival.
Feeling betrayed, the Super Eagles star took drastic measures. He skipped training sessions for a fortnight without presenting a medical certificate, deleted all Atalanta-related images from his social media, and made his transfer demand public.
Atalanta rejected Inter’s final €45m offer, prompting Nerazzurri directors Beppe Marotta and Piero Ausilio to freeze talks and shift focus elsewhere. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed the breakdown, reporting that negotiations were “completely off.”
The fallout has now left Atalanta considering disciplinary measures. La Gazzetta noted the club will fine Lookman for his absence, dock wages for missed training days, and could also demand a public apology as part of his reintegration process.
Despite the tension, head coach Ivan Juric is reluctant to push the matter too far. Having already lost last season’s Serie A top scorer Mateo Retegui, Juric has warned that parting ways with Lookman could leave the club without “90 per cent of their goals.”
This places both sides in a delicate position. Atalanta must enforce discipline without diminishing Lookman’s market value, while the 26-year-old risks losing crucial form and preparation ahead of December’s Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria.
A reintegration plan is reportedly being discussed, with the possibility of restoring him to the starting XI once disciplinary issues are resolved. But for now, Lookman’s future in Bergamo remains clouded by mistrust, tension, and the fallout of a transfer that never was.
