Atalanta CEO Antonio Percassi has clarified that Nigerian winger Ademola Lookman will only be allowed to leave the club this summer if a “super top club” from outside Italy makes an offer.
Speaking in a statement shared by journalist Fabrizio Romano on Monday, Percassi revealed that the club had a prior agreement with Lookman after rejecting a €20 million bid from Paris Saint-Germain last year.
“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.”
The announcement follows rising tension between Lookman and the club, with the 27-year-old accusing Atalanta of going back on promises regarding his potential transfer. In a message posted Sunday, Lookman confirmed he had submitted a transfer request after months of what he described as “broken promises” and unfair treatment.
Despite the disagreement, the Super Eagles forward expressed deep respect for the club, citing his dedication and key role in their 2023/24 UEFA Europa League triumph.
“I’ve given absolutely everything. Not just as a footballer, but as a person. 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 stated.
Lookman, who joined Atalanta from RB Leipzig in 2022, has scored 52 goals in 117 appearances and was the hero of their historic Europa League final win over Bayer Leverkusen, where he netted a memorable hat-trick.
