Ademola Lookman
Antonio Percassi, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Atalanta, says Ademola Lookman can only leave “for a super top club” that is “not in Italy”.
The club executive was responding to allegations that Atalanta are deliberately blocking the exit of Lookman.
On Sunday, Lookman accused Atalanta of refusing to honour an agreement to allow him to join another team despite “an offer in alignment to what I believe had been discussed”.
The player declared that “enough is enough” and announced that he had formally handed in his transfer request to the club.
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At a press conference, while presenting another player on Monday, Percassi said the pact was made with Lookman a year ago when the club rejected a €20 million bid from Paris Saint-Germain FC.
He listed the two conditions that both parties agreed on before Lookman could be let go by the club.
“Atalanta, being a credible club, had promised to sell the player this window based on two conditions that he himself had asked of us: First, to go to a super, top European club, and that he would never be seen in Italy wearing a shirt other than Atalanta’s, given what he did for the club and what he received from the club,” the Atalanta CEO said.
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“Today, as you know, the situation is very different. The club is always careful when evaluating the value and timing of its players, but as always, it is Atalanta, the club, that decides.”
A few days ago, Lookman deleted all posts related to Atalanta on his Instagram page.
He also unfollowed the club on Instagram and deleted the team’s name from his bio.
Lookman also removed posts and pictures of himself in the team’s jersey on the social media page — including his profile picture.
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The development follows the club’s rejection of Inter Milan’s latest offer to sign the 27-year-old.
