Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has publicly accused Serie A club Atalanta of breaking promises over his proposed summer transfer, confirming he has submitted a formal request to leave the club.
In a strongly worded statement released on Sunday, the 27-year-old Nigerian international expressed his frustration after what he described as “many months of broken promises” and “poor treatment,” claiming the Bergamo-based club has gone back on a previously agreed plan to allow him to depart if a fair offer arrived.
“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 said.
The former Everton and Fulham winger, who joined Atalanta in 2022, was a pivotal figure in the club’s historic 2023/24 UEFA Europa League triumph. His standout performance came in the final in Dublin, where he scored a hat-trick to secure a 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen, a moment he described as “one of the proudest of my career.”
Despite those highs, Lookman explained that behind-the-scenes issues have persisted for months. He claimed that he and the club’s hierarchy had agreed earlier this year that the summer transfer window would present the right opportunity for a new challenge, as long as a fair offer was submitted.
“There have been numerous clubs that have approached Atalanta in the past, and I have previously always stayed loyal,” he said. “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.”
Lookman alleges that Atalanta have since reversed their stance despite receiving an offer he believes aligns with the earlier agreement.
“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,” he continued.
The Nigerian forward stated that going public was a last resort, claiming he had exhausted private discussions with the club before making the matter public for the sake of “transparency and fairness.”
“I unfortunately feel there is now little choice,” Lookman wrote. “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.”
Neither Atalanta nor Lookman’s representatives have provided additional comments following the statement. The situation casts uncertainty over the forward’s future as the summer transfer window continues, with several European clubs reportedly monitoring his status closely.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
