Ademola Lookman has officially submitted a transfer request to Atalanta, escalating his desire to join Inter Milan. The Nigerian forward is reportedly furious with Atalanta for rejecting multiple offers from Inter Milan. Lookman's frustration stems from broken promises and perceived poor treatment by the club.

According to football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Lookman has formally asked Atalanta to let him leave after the Italian club turned down Inter's opening bid. Romano stated via X (formerly Twitter) that "Lookman wants to join Inter". Lookman himself released a statement on Instagram expressing his disappointment and confirming the transfer request. He stated that he felt he had "no choice" but to speak out. Lookman said the club are "blocking the opportunity for reasons I do not understand". He also deleted posts related to Atalanta from his social media profiles, signaling a growing rift between club and player.

Inter Milan have identified Lookman as a key target to strengthen their attack for the upcoming season. Despite Atalanta's firm stance, Inter Milan's president, Giuseppe Marotta, has confirmed that negotiations are ongoing and expressed optimism that a deal can be reached. Inter Milan have apparently made Lookman their primary target, with other players such as Christopher Nkunku being considered as backup options.

Atalanta's rejection of Inter's bids has been a major sticking point. Inter Milan's most recent offer was reportedly a guaranteed €42 million plus €3 million in add-ons. However, Atalanta are holding firm on their valuation of the player, demanding a minimum of €50 million. Earlier reports indicated that Atalanta rejected a €45 million offer from Inter Milan. The club responded to the bid with a brief email thanking Inter for their interest but rejecting the proposal.

Lookman's potential move to Inter Milan has been a prominent topic in recent weeks. A personal agreement has already been reached between Lookman and Inter Milan for a five-year contract worth €4.5 million per season.

The situation is reminiscent of Teun Koopmeiners' transfer saga last year, where the player made his desire to join Juventus clear. Ultimately, Atalanta sold Koopmeiners to Juventus near the end of the transfer window.

It remains to be seen whether Atalanta will soften their stance. Lookman's transfer request increases the pressure on the club to find a resolution that satisfies both the player's desire to move and Atalanta's valuation of their star forward. Some fans have started to turn on Lookman, with some branding him a "Lookmeiner".

Lookman's departure would be a bitter end to a productive period in Bergamo. He played a key role in Atalanta's Europa League triumph in 2024, scoring a hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen. In the past season, Lookman scored 20 goals in 41 appearances.

While Inter Milan appears to be Lookman's preferred destination, he has also attracted interest from clubs in the Premier League and Bundesliga.