Atalanta CEO Lucas Percassi has ruled out a potential January exit for Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman despite ongoing speculations linking him with a move away from Bergamo, Footynaija.com reports.
Lookman’s long-term status as an Atalanta player is uncertain especially with the former African Player of the Year, attracting concrete interest from Serie A champions Napoli and Turkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce.
Atalanta’s signing of Giacomo Raspadori from Atletico Madrid this winter further strengthened talks of Lookman’s potential departure from Bergamo with reports suggesting the former Napoli forward had been brought in as a replacement.
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However, Percassi has now poured cold water on such reports, insisting that Raspadori’s arrival is independent of Lookman’s future and the Nigeria international remains an important player for La Dea.
“Raspadori ‘s arrival was a transfer opportunity that didn’t require the sale of a player,” he said in quotes revealed by FC Inter1908.
“We’re happy that Giacomo chose Atalanta ; he’s an important player, like Ademola. We need to get back to performing well.”
As things stand, Lookman continues to play a key role for La Dea in their chase for Champions League qualification in Serie A after re-establishing himself as a crucial member of the squad under Rafaele Palladino.
From Percassi’s comments, it’s clear that Atalanta have no intention of letting Lookman leave this month and the Nigerian will most likely remain a Nerazurri until the end of this current season.
However, the situation could potentially take a different shape in the summer when Lookman will have just one year left on his current contract. By then, Atalanta may have to do business in the transfer market or risk losing their star player for free in the summer of 2027.
