Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi has revealed the membership made a pact with Ademola Lookman final yr, agreeing to promote him solely beneath two particular circumstances, and dominated out any transfer to a different Serie A facet.
Softfootball gathered that through the unveiling of recent goalkeeper Marco Sportiello on Monday, Percassi defined the backstory behind the continuing switch saga surrounding Lookman, who handed in a proper switch request this summer season. Fabrizio Romano additionally revealed the backstory behind the delays in Lookman’s switch from the membership.
As revealed by Fabrizio Romano on his X deal with, he revealed:
“The participant requested to be bought final yr after a €20 million supply got here in from PSG,” Percassi mentioned. “Atalanta, being a reputable membership, had promised to promote the participant this window primarily based on two circumstances that he himself had requested of us: First, to go to an excellent, prime European membership, and that he would by no means be seen in Italy carrying a shirt apart from Atalanta’s, given what he did for the membership and what he obtained from the membership. Right now, as you understand, the state of affairs could be very completely different.”
These circumstances, based on Percassi, have been that the Nigerian ahead might go away solely to a “tremendous, prime European membership” and would by no means be allowed to put on the shirt of one other Italian membership.
The assertion sheds gentle on Atalanta’s stance following a serious method by Inter Milan, who submitted a proposal value over €40 million, together with bonuses. Lookman had anticipated a transfer to materialise and has since publicly criticized the membership for what he calls “damaged guarantees”.
However Percassi stood agency. “As at all times, it’s Atalanta, the membership, that decides the worth and the timing of its gamers. That has not modified,” he mentioned.
Lookman joined Atalanta from RB Leipzig in 2022 and has emerged as one in every of their key performers, scoring 30 objectives in all competitions over two seasons. He was instrumental of their UEFA Europa League triumph final marketing campaign, scoring a historic hat-trick within the ultimate.
Regardless of his significance to Gian Piero Gasperini’s facet, Lookman pushed for a transfer this summer season. Nonetheless, Percassi’s remarks reaffirm that any switch will adhere strictly to the 2024 settlement.
Softfootball has earlier written on Inter Milan’s supply to signal the Nigerian worldwide from Atalanta, with the participant eager to affix the Italian giants.
In the meantime, the saga now locations strain on Lookman’s representatives to safe curiosity from exterior Italy. With Inter’s supply successfully dominated out, solely a big bid from overseas could immediate a breakthrough.
Lookman, 27, stays beneath contract at Atalanta till 2026. Whereas no official disciplinary motion has been taken but, the winger’s public discontent could complicate Atalanta’s preparations for the brand new season.
Nonetheless, the membership insisted they won’t be pressured into a call that breaches the settlement made a yr in the past.
