What happens next for Lookman after reluctantly returning to Atalanta | OneFootball

Ademola Lookman is currently training individually back at Atalanta’s training ground after a breakdown in negotiations between La Dea and Inter, and is likely to be fined by the club following his decision to abandon training for several weeks, Tuesday’s reports suggest.

What happened with Lookman, Inter and Atalanta?

Lookman has been pushing for a move to join Inter this summer following a bid worth €45m including bonuses from the Nerazzurri, which was turned down by Atalanta.

In response, Lookman submitted a formal transfer request, and also took to Instagram to accuse Atalanta of breaking promises and treating him poorly on a personal and professional level.

EMPOLI, ITALY – FEBRUARY 23: Ademola of Atalanta BC reacts during the Serie A match between Empoli and Atalanta at Stadio Carlo Castellani on February 23, 2025 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi then confirmed that there was a gentleman’s agreement in place that would have allowed Lookman to leave the club this summer, but only for a suitable fee, and only to a big club outside of Italy, which complicated proceedings with Inter.

That led to Lookman taking an unauthorised absence for several weeks. The Nigeria international trained individually in the UK while holding out for a move to Inter, but as of Tuesday morning, he has reluctantly returned to Zingonia where he is still training on his own.

What happens next for Lookman and Atalanta?

African Player of the Year Atalanta (pictue @Atalanta_BC)

Reports on Monday evening confirmed that Inter have now abandoned their pursuit of the former RB Leipzig, Everton and Fulham forward, and are set to focus on other targets instead, potentially a new midfielder rather than a new attacker.

Lookman, meanwhile, has less than a week to go before Atalanta’s first Serie A match of the 2025-26 season, which falls against newly-promoted Pisa on Sunday evening.

It remains to be seen whether he will be fit enough, or whether he will be allowed to participate with the rest of the Atalanta first-team for the Pisa clash.

As per La Gazzetta dello Sport, it is also likely that Atalanta will fine Lookman in the coming days as a result of his taking an unauthorised absence without providing any form of explanation or evidence.

The Pink Paper claims that Atalanta are also able to retrospectively reduce Lookman’s wages for the days that he was not present with the rest of his teammates.