Ademola Lookman, winger for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, has deleted all Instagram posts related to his Italian club, Atalanta, amid transfer tensions following the club’s rejection of a bid from Inter Milan.
On Friday, August 1, Atalanta turned down a €42 million offer plus €3 million in add-ons from Inter Milan for the 27-year-old forward. Despite Lookman reportedly agreeing to personal terms with Inter, Atalanta is holding firm to its €60 million valuation.
In apparent response to the stalled move, Lookman unfollowed Atalanta on Instagram and removed the club’s name from his bio. He also deleted multiple posts, including those featuring him in the club’s jersey, and replaced his profile photo that previously showed him in Atalanta colours.
Lookman was also absent from Atalanta’s squad for their pre-season match against RB Leipzig in Germany on Saturday, August 2. Local reports indicate he is sidelined with a calf injury and expected to be out of action for several weeks.
The Nigerian international joined Atalanta from RB Leipzig in 2022 for €10.8 million. He has since become one of the club’s key players, scoring 52 goals in 118 appearances. Lookman’s crowning moment came in the 2023/24 Europa League final, where he scored a hat-trick to secure Atalanta’s first-ever European trophy.
He is the current holder of the CAF African Footballer of the Year award, succeeding fellow Nigerian Victor Osimhen, who won the accolade in 2023.