Lookman row does not change Atalanta transfer plan for 2025 | OneFootball

Transfer pundit Fabrizio Romano notes that Ademola Lookman is likely to leave Atalanta this summer, but in truth that had been evident for months before the row with Gian Piero Gasperini.

The forward reacted angrily on social media after Gasperini singled him out for criticism during a press conference in the wake of the Champions League play-off exit to Club Brugge.

The coach declared that Lookman was “one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen” and should not have taken on those duties, especially in a tense situation against specialist Simon Mignolet.

While Atalanta are trying to smooth things over, the plan is and always has been for Lookman to leave in the summer of 2025.

Where the Lookman tension started within Atalanta

BERGAMO, ITALY – DECEMBER 10: Ademola Lookman of Atalanta celebrates with teammate Matteo Ruggeri after scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Atalanta BC and Real Madrid C.F. at Stadio di Bergamo on December 10, 2024 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

This goes back to the start of the extreme tension between Gasperini and Lookman, which really started when the Nigeria international tried to force through a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain at the start of this season.

He even withdrew from the squad for a big game, but returned a week later when told in no uncertain terms there would be no transfer, especially as Teun Koopmeiners was already using a similar tactic to get his move to Juventus.

At the time, it was suggested that Lookman was promised a transfer the next summer, so was prepared to wait for one more year to get his big step up.

After all, the 27-year-old’s career until coming to Atalanta in 2022 had been beset by problems, failing to consistently live up to expectations at Everton, RB Leipzig, Leicester City and Fulham.

He was purchased for under €12m including performance-related bonuses and his value on the transfer market is now closer to €60m.