New Atalanta head coach Ivan Juric has voiced his disappointment over the Ademola Lookman transfer standoff, describing it as ‘sad' that the situation has deteriorated to this point, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Nigerian forward has been absent from training for more than a week, amid growing certainty that he has played his last game for the Bergamo club.
Ademola Lookman has formally requested a move to Inter Milan, accusing Atalanta of reneging on assurances about his future.
Inter have reportedly agreed personal terms with the 27-year-old, but their latest €45m bid was rejected, with Atalanta insisting on €50m. Despite the tension, Juric admitted the winger had been transparent with him.
“Ademola was very fair with me, he explained his thoughts,” Juric told L’Eco di Bergamo as per Gianluca Di Marzio.
“We just have to accept the situation. It’s sad that it got to this point. I trained the team when he already had a calf injury, then this happened, so I never really got to work with him. At least it meant that it didn’t influence the squad.
“We lost players who provided 80-90 per cent of our goals and it won’t be easy to replace them. I don’t think anyone will arrive who can replicate the numbers provided by Retegui or Lookman, but we must reinforce with intelligence and widen our list of alternatives.”
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Lookman’s social media profiles have been stripped of all Atalanta references, signalling his determination to leave after weeks of stalled negotiations.
CEO Luca Percassi maintains the final call on timing and valuation lies with the club, while Inter weigh whether to return with an improved bid or switch to alternative targets.
The winger has been central to Atalanta’s recent success, winning the club’s Player of the Season award twice in a row, netting a historic hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, and becoming the first Atalanta player to be crowned CAF Footballer of the Year.
Although Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Napoli, Tottenham, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest have shown interest, Inter Milan remain his preferred destination. Inter are expected to table a third bid imminently.
Lookman is currently Atalanta’s most valuable attacking asset.
