CHELSEA legend Didier Drogba has stepped into the growing transfer dispute between Atalanta and Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman, filing a 50-page petition against the Italian club over their handling of the Nigerian star’s proposed move to Inter Milan.
The petition, submitted directly to Atalanta in Italy, was prepared with the endorsement of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and calls for what it describes as a “fair and transparent transfer process.”
Lookman, 27, had already agreed personal terms with Inter Milan after the Nerazzurri tabled a €45 million bid in late July.
However, Atalanta rejected the offer, holding out for a fee between €50 million and €55 million.
The impasse has left the Nigerian winger frustrated, with reports suggesting he has refused to resume pre-season training in Bergamo.
Lookman has instead spent time between London and Portugal, insisting that Inter’s offer represents fair value and accusing Atalanta of deliberately blocking his progress.
Drogba, widely regarded as one of Africa’s greatest-ever footballers, personally delivered the petition in Italy. In a statement posted by African Hub on X, the intervention was described as more than just football, but rather a call for “accountability and justice in global football transfers, especially when it concerns African stars.”
“Didier Drogba has landed in Italy to submit a 50-page petition to Atalanta, approved by CAF, advocating for a fair and transparent transfer process for Africa’s top talent, Ademola Lookman, Africa’s Best Player of the Year,” the post read.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has also declared support for Lookman. In a message posted on the official Super Eagles page, the federation wrote: CAF’s endorsement of Drogba’s petition further underscores growing concerns among African football bodies that clubs in Europe sometimes undervalue or unfairly frustrate the career progress of African players.
With the summer transfer window edging closer to its deadline, Lookman’s representatives are expected back in Italy in a fresh bid to break the deadlock.
Inter Milan are reportedly confident of eventually landing their top attacking target but are reluctant to increase their €45m offer significantly.
Drogba’s dramatic intervention has now placed additional pressure on Atalanta, sparking debate within the global football community about player rights, transparency, and the treatment of African stars in European football.
