ADEMOLA Lookman’s stormy relationship with Atalanta has taken another dramatic turn after the club dropped the Nigerian winger from their 23-man squad for the Serie A season opener against Pisa.
The decision comes amid ongoing tensions following his failed move to Inter Milan earlier this summer.
The 27-year-old forward, who only three months ago was celebrated as a hero for firing Atalanta to their historic Europa League triumph, now finds himself frozen out of the squad, training alone, and uncertain of his future.
The troubles began when Inter Milan tabled a €45 million bid for Lookman in early August, an offer Atalanta swiftly rejected, insisting it fell short of their €50 million valuation.
Lookman reacted angrily, accusing the club of “breaking promises” and treating him unfairly.
In protest, the Nigerian forward took a two-week unauthorised leave of absence, missing crucial pre-season preparations.
He later submitted an official transfer request, making clear his desire to join Inter.
Although negotiations dragged on, Inter eventually withdrew their interest, unable to meet Atalanta’s price tag. The collapse of the deal forced Lookman back to Bergamo, where he briefly rejoined training before being sent to work individually, away from the main squad.
Atalanta sporting director Tony D’Amico confirmed before Sunday’s opener that the situation remains unresolved.
“Lookman is not training with the group, and we are experiencing more and more situations like this. We are sorry for everyone, but right now this is the situation.
“We’ll make assessments at the end of the transfer window. As of today, there’s disappointment,” D’Amico told DAZN via TMW.
The official stance suggests that Atalanta will only make a final decision on Lookman’s future after the transfer window closes, leaving open the possibility of either reintegrating him in September or extending his exclusion indefinitely.
While Lookman was left out, Atalanta’s new arrivals; Nikola Krstovic, Kamaldeen Sulemana, and 17-year-old Honest Ahanor, all made the squad list for the Pisa clash, signalling the club’s intent to look ahead with fresh options in attack.
Lookman, however, remains the club’s most prolific forward on paper. Since arriving in Bergamo, he has scored 52 goals in 118 appearances, establishing himself as a key player and earning continental acclaim.
Just last season, Lookman’s name was written into Atalanta folklore when he scored a hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, delivering the club their first-ever European trophy.
His performances earned him the prestigious 2024 African Ballon d’Or, cementing his status as one of the continent’s brightest stars.
But within weeks, his relationship with the club deteriorated sharply. The Nigerian further fuelled speculation by deleting all photos of himself in Atalanta colours from his Instagram, a symbolic gesture that reflected the widening rift with the club hierarchy.
For now, Lookman remains under contract with Atalanta until June 2027, meaning the club retains control of his immediate future.
His absence from the first two rounds of Serie A suggests reintegration will not come quickly, even if no transfer materialises.