By: Dayo Awoniyi
Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has submitted a transfer request to Serie A side Atalanta, signaling his intention to leave the club at the end of the season.
The 25-year-old’s decision follows a very public fallout with Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini. The tension between the two began after Lookman missed a penalty in a match against Club Brugge, with Gasperini openly criticizing the player’s penalty-taking ability.
The manager even went as far as labeling Lookman one of the “worst penalty takers” he’d ever seen, a remark that clearly strained their relationship.
Lookman, whose contract with Atalanta has just one year remaining, is reportedly eager for a return to the Premier League. Sources close to the player indicate that both Newcastle United and Manchester United have already initiated preliminary talks with the Italian club.
Atalanta has reportedly set a £50 million transfer fee for Lookman, and with interest also coming from Juventus, it appears a summer move is becoming increasingly likely for the talented winger.
With his future now uncertain at the Serie A club, Lookman’s next move could be a pivotal one in his career as he seeks to continue his growth in European football.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey 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.
