By Dayo Awoniyi
Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman’s future at Atalanta is in serious doubt, as tensions between the player and the club intensify.
The 26-year-old Nigerian international’s camp has hinted at the possibility of terminating his contract, citing ongoing disputes with the club as the catalyst for this dramatic shift.
Lookman’s agent, Andrea D’Amico, has suggested that the forward could pursue legal action, invoking European labor laws that could enable non-EU players to challenge their contracts under the same terms as EU citizens.
This legal route, reminiscent of Lassana Diarra’s successful 2014 move from Real Madrid, could provide a pathway for Lookman to leave Atalanta on his terms.
The uncertainty surrounding Lookman’s situation comes as Inter Milan ramps up its efforts to secure his signature.
Despite two previous bids being rejected, the Serie A giants have maintained a strong interest in the player and recently submitted an improved offer for the Nigerian forward.
However, Atalanta has remained firm in its €50 million valuation of Lookman, rejecting Inter’s latest proposal.
With the player’s future hanging in the balance, it seems increasingly likely that this dispute could escalate into one of the most high-profile transfer sagas of the summer in Serie A.
As tensions mount in Bergamo, Lookman’s next move remains unclear, with both legal and transfer options on the table.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
