Ademola Lookman on Sunday confirmed he has submitted a formal transfer request to Atalanta, reports Completesports.com.
The Nigeria international has been linked with a move to Inter Milan.
The Nerrazzuri recently had a €45m offer rejected by Atalanta.
La Dea are reportedly holding out for €50m.
Lookman Pushing To Join Inter Milan
Lookman confirmed via Instagram on Sunday his desire to leave Atalanta for Inter Milan.
“Over the past three years at Atalanta, 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.
“I came here with the hope of helping this special club grow and together, we’ve created memories that will stay with me forever. Winning the Europa League and standing shoulder to shoulder with my teammates that night in Dublin celebrating with our fans was one of the proudest moments of my career so far. It still gives me goosebumps thinking about it.
“Atalanta, and especially its supporters, have become a part of me. This place has felt like home from the moment I arrived and I’ve always tried to repay that love – even in moments where things haven’t been easy behind the scenes.
“That’s what makes writing this so hard. I have loved every moment but feel that now, after three wonderful years in Bergamo, it is the right time to move on and experience a new adventure.
“There have been numerous clubs approach Atalanta in the past and I have previously always stayed loyal. However, myself and the ownership of the club have been in agreement that now is the right time and the club were clear with me that if a fair offer came in they would allow me to move.
“Despite now receiving an offer in alignment to what I believe had been discussed sadly the club are blocking the opportunity for reasons I do not understand.
“As a result and after many months of broken promises and what I feel has been poor treatment towards me as both a human being and as a professional footballer, sadly I feel I have no choice but to speak out for what I believe is right and I feel that enough is enough.
“I can confirm I have now handed in a formal transfer request.
“Even throughout the extremely difficult moments I’ve endured, many of which have remained private and confidential, I have always tried to put the club, the fans and the team first and hoped it would not get to this, but I unfortunately feel there is now little choice.
“To the fans – the heartbeat of this club – I want to say this: I’m truly sorry it’s come to this. I hope you can understand this incredibly difficult situation. It’s simply about standing up for what I believe is fair and right. The support you have always given me has been incredible and the bond we have created together is special.
“I hope to work together with the club to find an amicable solution for all parties as soon as possible.
“With love and gratitude, Ademola.”
2 Comments
I pray and hope Atalanta does not treat lookman the way Napoli treated Osihmen. What is all these nonsense. Allow the boy to move on.
It seems Lookman too needs to go beg Finidi…..LMAOoo.
Or maybe he too is “not that very good” like Osimhen….LMAOooo.
The boy has a bad character…..LMAOoo…he should have kept quiet and said nothing when his coach blamed him for a loss earlier in the year despite coming on from the bench after just having recovered from injury to score an equalizer…….LMAOooo
That is why all the clubs in Italy and Europe are “rejecting” him, even though he comes as cheap as a meagre 5m per year deal…..LMAOooo
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Anyways, sarcasm aside, this must have been how they expected Osimhen to come grovelling at their feet, begging to be paid the peanuts they were offering him. If you don’t rate yourself highly, no one else will…..! Not only did Galatasary top up his wage request from 12m to 15m, they also added an extra 5m in loyalty and image bonuses, totalling 21m per annum.
As cheap as a player of the calibre of Lookman is at a price tag of just 50m, with just 1 year left of his contract, most of these clubs will rather wait till January and be ready to snap him up on a free that cough out that 50m, especially when it is certain he would be away for up to 6 or 7 weeks at AFCON by december.
It’s funny, Inter Milan is still oscillating between 40m and 45m as of their 5th bid for lookman. A mere additional 5m to meet Atalanta’s 50m asking prize seems to be too much for them to cough out. That is how “Highly” they value/rate Ademola Lookman.
With just a year left on his contract, Lookman shouldn’t have shown so much desperation to leave at any cost. He has seriously shortchanged himself by doing so