The CEO of Atalanta claims that his club did promise Ademola Lookman a transfer, but not to a team in Serie A.
La Dea executive Luca Percassi spoke about the transfer soap opera during the unveiling of Marco Sportiello, via FCInterNews.
At the heart of the burgeoning transfer soap opera between Inter Milan, Atalanta, and Ademola Lookman, is a supposed promise that La Dea made to Lookman.
Last summer, Paris Saint-Germain had made an offer for Lookman. And the player was keen to join the Parisians.
However, Atalanta insisted on keeping Lookman. And in order to convince him to accept staying, they made him a promise that he could leave after another season.
Atalanta CEO: “We Promised Ademola Lookman A Transfer – But Not In Serie A”
Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi addressed the media during the presentation of re-signed goalkeeper Marco Sportiello.
“This is a good opportunity to clarify what happened,” he said.
“Last year, after facing an offer of €20 million from PSG, the player asked to be sold,” he continued.
“Atalanta promised to grant him a transfer this window,” the executive went on. “The offer had to come from a top European club, and he wouldn’t wear the shirt of a club other than Atalanta in Italy.”
“Today, as I’m sure you’re all well aware, the situation is very different.”
Percassi then insisted that “in any case, the club is always careful to evaluate the timing and valuation of when a player leaves.”
“But it’s always Atalanta who decide,” the CEO then insisted.
no problem , next season we get him with 0
This is textbook politician backtracking after has hit the fan. I say we sign an extremely motivated Lookman and avoid buying from them for at least 5 years. Done with their prideful attitude.
I hope other clubs In Serie A are taking notes and add $10M on top of the asking price for any players that Atalanta are interested in moving forward. This weak mentality is a reason why a lot of young great talented players leave Serie A, which lowers the quality of players in the league overall.
PSG (a foreign club) offered 20m last season and they refuse to sell promising to do so the next season. Come new season, Inter offered 45m and they said they wanted to sell only to foreign clubs. Atalanta’s spinning Lookman worst than his dreads. What a cunt. Lol
Well its hard to trust Atalanta cause they already pulled this shit to Koopmeiners. Seems like they are taking a bigger hit than they anticipated just to prevent another serie a team from getting stronger lel
The drama is becoming pathetic. It’s time to move on.
Strange if Lookman made that public transfer request stating Atalanta rejected an offer for reasons not known – if knowing full well that the agreement was only valid for foreign clubs.
Either CEO Percassi or Lookman is lying! And if the agreement was verbal it is word against word.
You know who’s lying. Do you think they would even entertain the idea of receiving an offer when they were not interested in selling to a serie a side. That statement is complete BS while Lookman was promised to leave the club.