Inter Milan President Explains Why Club Abandoned Ademola Lookman’s Chase
- Inter Milan are no longer in the race to sign Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman from Atalanta
- Inter submitted three offers, all of which were rejected by the 2024 UEFA Europa League winners
- President Beppe Marotta has disclosed why Inter did not press further despite the player's green light
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Inter Milan president Beppe Marotta has opened up on why his club abandoned the race to sign Ademola Lookman, despite the player's desire to move.
Lookman and Atalanta agreed to part ways this summer after the club denied him a move to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2024 after winning the Europa League.
Source: Getty Images
The two parties have been at loggerheads this summer after Atalanta blocked his move to Inter Milan despite receiving an offer worth €45 million.
Atalanta claimed that it was never agreed that he would be sold to an Italian club, forcing Lookman to hand in a transfer request, which he confirmed via a social media statement.
The Super Eagles star also went on strike to force a move, but Atalanta refused to shift their grounds until Inter Milan walked away from the deal.
Marotta explains Lookman snub
Lookman had agreed personal terms with Inter and had made known his desire to join the Nerazzuri, which initially prompted them to push ahead.
However, after multiple rejections and La Dea communicating their intention, Inter walked away and moved to other targets. President Beppe Marotta has opened up on why.
He explained that he understands Atalanta's stance of making Lookman unavailable to the Italian market and thus shifted Inter’s focus in good time.
“We tried to seize the opportunities of the Italian market. There was talk of Lookman, and I do not deny it, but we found a company like Atalanta that, rightly, had the full right not to put him on the Italian market,” Marotta told Sky Sports Italia.
The 2025 UEFA Champions League finalist instead signed 22-year-old Andy Alune Diouf from RC Lens for €25m, half of what Atalanta demanded for Lookman.
There has been next to no information about Lookman and Atalanta in the past days after Tribuna reported that the player had returned to training in Zingonia.
Source: Getty Images
The reigning African Footballer of the Year has made up his mind to join Atalanta, but may reconsider his options after the Italian giants walked away.
He has interest from the Premier League, where he has a point to prove, but he is unwilling to accept and would rather run down his contract and be a free agent.
His current contract expires in the summer of 2026, and with Ivan Juric open to reintegrating him into the squad, he could take advantage and refuse a new contract.
Super Eagles stars awaiting transfers
Legit.ng analysed seven Super Eagles stars who could still change clubs before the summer transfer window closes, including Ademola Lookman.
Samuel Chukwueze is close to joining Fulham from AC Milan, while Sadiq Umar, Tolu Arokodare and others face anxious waits in the final days.
Source: Legit.ng
