Atalanta warn Lookman over potential summer exit News

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Atalanta warn Lookman over potential summer exit

By Daily Sports Nigeria on January 25, 2025

Atalanta president Antonio Percassi says the club will do ‘all they can’ to keep Ademola Lookman next summer, but he also warned the Nigeria striker ‘must not stay against his will’, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Lookman was linked with a summer move to PSG, but he eventually remained in Bergamo, where his contract expires in June 2026.

This season, the forward has continued his fine form scoring 14 goals and seven assists in 26 appearances across all competitions.

According to Football Italia, Corriere della Sera asked Percassi and his son, the club CEO Luca, whether they would keep the 27-year-old at the club beyond the summer.

“We’ll do all we can, but he must not stay against his will,” they replied.

“After all, we have already replaced Zapata, Muriel and Gomez.”

The pair revealed they would make just one signing this month.

“Perhaps a striker, as Gasperini wants, but it must be worth it.”

Teun Koopmeiners was the last top player leaving Bergamo, but the Dutchman is struggling in his first season at Juventus.

Last summer, he forced a move to Turin, sending several medical certificates to avoid training with Atalanta, while his agent was working on a deal with the Old Lady.

“Koop’s attitude was entirely wrong,” the Percassi said.

“We had the ambition to keep all our top players, but he even snubbed the UEFA Super Cup against Real Madrid. There was no need to go this far. When we met Juventus, he came to us to say he was sorry, but we said it clearly; ‘You made a mistake.’ It’s also about gratitude.”

While it seems the Atalanta hierarchies are willing to cash in on Lookman, the Koopmeiners situation might be a subtle warning for the reigning African Player of The Year who is a subject of interest from top clubs in Europe.

According to Il Corriere dello Sport, Atalanta value Lookman at €50m.

Lookman, who joined Atalanta from RB Leipzig for €10m in 2022, was instrumental in securing back-to-back European qualifications for the club. His standout performance came in the UEFA Europa League final, where he netted a historic hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen, becoming the first player to achieve this feat in the competition’s final.

Source Punch Ng

Posted January 25, 2025