Serie A side Atalanta are set to take legal steps against Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman after he left Italy without permission.
The 27-year-old has skipped several training sessions and has not spoken to the club since his sudden departure.
Club officials say he is on an unapproved vacation in protest at Atalanta’s refusal to accept a transfer offer from Inter Milan.
Reports in Italy claim the club’s owners, the Percassi family, are preparing action that could lead to a heavy fine. They see his behaviour as unacceptable regardless of his reasons.
Lookman’s absence comes just weeks before the new league season starts, creating an unwanted distraction for the Bergamo team.
Transfer Standoff
The dispute began when Atalanta turned down Inter Milan’s latest bid.
The Milan club had offered 42 million euros plus three million in add-ons, short of Atalanta’s 50 million asking price.
Inter had already agreed personal terms with the Nigerian, offering a contract worth 4.5 million euros a year until 2030.
Lookman is said to believe Atalanta broke a promise that he could leave if a good offer came in.
The winger has formally requested a transfer and even unfollowed the club on social media. Atalanta, however, are not willing to sell to a direct league rival unless their price is met.
Other Clubs Watching Closely
Tottenham Hotspur are also said to be monitoring the situation.
The English club see Lookman as a possible replacement for Son Heung-min and as an alternative to Real Madrid’s Rodrygo.
Atalanta may hope that interest from abroad will push the price closer to their valuation.
Lookman has two years left on his contract, giving Atalanta strong control over his future. If no deal is reached, he will be expected to return and see out his deal.
The forward had an impressive campaign last season, scoring 20 goals in all competitions. His sudden stand-off with the club now threatens to overshadow his form.
With neither side ready to back down, the coming weeks could decide whether Lookman’s next match is in an Atalanta shirt or elsewhere.
