Bergamo, August 4, 2025 — The ongoing saga surrounding Atalanta`s Nigerian forward, Ademola Lookman, took another dramatic turn today. After a weekend marked by escalating tensions, Lookman conspicuously failed to report for his scheduled personalized training session at the club’s Zingonia sports center. This absence is particularly notable as the session was intended for his recovery from a calf injury. One might reasonably assume that a professional footballer, especially one sidelined by injury, would be eager to expedite his return to the pitch. However, Lookman appears to have other priorities, or perhaps, a different strategy.
A Series of Unfortunate Events for La Dea
This latest development is not an isolated incident but rather the third notable “rupture” in the player`s relationship with the Bergamo club. The initial cracks appeared when Lookman purged his Instagram profile of all Atalanta-related imagery. This digital cleansing was then followed by a blunt public message over the weekend: “I want to leave.” While player desires to move are hardly novel in the dynamic world of football transfers, the public nature and rapid succession of these declarations have left Atalanta in an unenviable position.
The decision to skip a rehabilitation session, however, introduces a new level of complexity. This isn`t merely a protest; it`s an action that directly impacts his physical readiness and, by extension, his market value. For a player to willingly delay his recovery, especially when professional medical staff are available, suggests a profound determination to force an exit. It forces the club into a corner: enforce discipline and potentially alienate the player further, or concede to his demands, possibly at a less-than-optimal price.
The Inter Factor and Atalanta`s Dilemma
Whispers from the transfer market have long linked Lookman with a move to Inter Milan, a domestic rival. This adds another layer to the narrative, recalling similar protracted transfer sagas within Serie A, such as the one involving Teun Koopmeiners last summer. Atalanta`s management, particularly President Percassi, had previously indicated that any agreement for Lookman`s departure would ideally involve a foreign club, presumably to avoid strengthening a direct competitor. This principled stance now clashes with the player`s apparent desire to move to San Siro.
Atalanta now faces a critical juncture. The daily activities at Zingonia concluded this evening without any sign of Lookman. The club must now carefully evaluate its response, weighing the need to uphold contractual obligations and team discipline against the pragmatic realities of retaining a player who clearly wishes to depart. Will they impose sanctions for his absence, or will this calculated move by the player accelerate negotiations for a transfer? The stakes are high, not only for Lookman`s career but also for Atalanta`s stability as the new season looms.
As the transfer window progresses, all eyes will be on Bergamo to see how this tense standoff resolves. Will common sense prevail, leading to an amicable — or at least mutually beneficial — separation, or are we witnessing the beginning of a prolonged and potentially acrimonious battle?
