Italian football agent George Gardi has revealed the main reason Super Eagles winger Ademola Lookman never completed a much-talked-about move to Galatasaray, Soccernet.ng reports.
Lookman looked destined for a move to Istanbul following strong interest from the Turkish champions and encouragement from fellow Nigerian star Victor Osimhen.
Galatasaray had targeted Lookman during both the summer and winter transfer windows, hoping to unite him with Osimhen in Istanbul. The Nigerian striker himself later admitted he had spoken directly with his international teammate about joining him at the club.
However, the transfer never materialised, and Lookman instead sealed a move to Atletico Madrid during the January transfer window.
Gardi, who has helped negotiate several major transfers for Galatasaray, explained that the club made serious efforts to sign the Atalanta forward after his proposed switch to Inter Milan broke down last summer.
“Especially with top-level players, sometimes transfers don’t fall through. There are endless variables,” Gardi told Tuttosport as per Habersarikirmizi.
“Last summer, after his [Ademola Lookman’s] deal with Inter fell through, I tried for Lookman; I wanted to emulate the Osimhen operation.
“A loan with a purchase option. But his club didn’t want to let him go. I tried again in January, but this time the demands from the Bergamo club were too high.”
Ademola Lookman: Atalanta stance ends Galatasaray hopes
According to Gardi, Atalanta’s refusal to approve a loan deal became the biggest obstacle. Galatasaray hoped to repeat the same transfer structure used to bring Osimhen to Turkey, a temporary deal followed by a permanent purchase option.
But Atalanta remained firm. The Serie A side were unwilling to lose one of their key attacking players under flexible financial terms. When talks reopened in January, the Italian club reportedly raised their valuation, placing the transfer beyond Galatasaray’s reach.
With negotiations stalled, Atletico Madrid moved quickly and completed a permanent deal for Lookman, ending months of speculation about a potential Nigerian attacking partnership in Istanbul.
It has also been revealed that Tottenham were among the clubs that came close to signing Lookman, with a return to England believed to be high on the priorities of the former Everton and Fulham star.
Instead, Lookman’s career took a different direction in Spain.
The Nigeria international joined Atletico Madrid for €35 million, his highest career valuation, and he has since become an instant hit at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
In only his first seven appearances for Diego Simeone's side, Lookman has scored against Barcelona, Real Betis, and Club Brugge.
