“Italian clubs must do better” – Former Lazio midfielder weighs in on Atalanta’s refusal to sell Lookman

Super Eagles and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman was linked with a move to Inter Milan in the summer, but his parent club were unwilling to part with him, Soccernet.ng reports.

Former Lazio and Trabzonspor midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has urged Italian administrators to do better in the treatment of their players, especially after what happened to Lookman and Victor Osimhen.

Osimhen had to fight tooth and nail to leave Napoli on a permanent transfer. Now that he's found a home in Galatasaray, he's looking to bring Lookman on board.

Inter Milan submitted three offers to Atalanta on Lookman's behalf, but the 2024 UEFA Europa League winners were adamant they wouldn't sell the Nigerian to another Italian club.

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Lookman: Ogenyi Onazi urges Italian clubs to do better

Ogenyi Onazi played for Lazio between 2012 and 2016, racking up over 100 appearances for the Eagles and revealed he had his fair share of transfer tussle with the club in 2013 after Nigeria won the AFCON.

While the latter part of the 33-year-old's career was plagued with injuries, he urged Osimhen and Lookman to leave the Serie A before the transfer saga ensued.

“For Ademola, I don't know about Atalanta, but I know the Napolitans are very aggressive,” Onazi said on the Abu Azeez podcast, referring to Osimhen's chaotic exit from the Diego Maradona Stadium.

“Ademola is very quiet, and sometimes that can be taken advantage of. Given he's done so well for the club, winning the UEFA Europa League, I don't know why they won't let him leave

“It's not like he's leaving on a free deal. The club will make money, football is a business, they can bring another person,

“It also depends on how he relates to the people. When I played in Lazio, I didn't have any difficulties with anybody because of how I carried myself. I gave my all on the pitch.

“I think some of these Italian Presidents and clubs need to do better because if you refuse to allow the player go when a huge offer comes in.

“What happens when he doesn't play well in the next season? What if he's injured and his value drops?

“Then they start to try to make him terminate his contract.

“According to what I heard, there was an agreement with the club, and now they are refusing to let him leave.

“He has to continue the form and keep going so he can leave in the summer,” the ex-Denizlispor midfielder concluded.

Lookman looks to be back in form after an excellent AFCON campaign in Morocco, where he was the player with the most goal contributions.