Lookman cannot blame Atalanta for failure of dream transfer | OneFootball

We have seen two very different examples this summer of player power being tested to the limits, by Ademola Lookman at Atalanta, and Alexander Isak at Newcastle United, writes Susy Campanale.

The transfer market increasingly seems to be skewed towards giving the individuals what they want, rendering contracts almost meaningless in the face of someone who can simply refuse to turn up to training.

Missing out on wages feels like scant punishment for someone who is almost aways pushing to earn even more at a new club, and everyone involved in these sagas knows it.

SOLNA, SWEDEN – NOVEMBER 16: Carl Starfelt and Alexander Isak of Sweden during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League C Group C1 match between Sweden and Slovakia at Strawberry Arena on November 16, 2024 in Solna, Sweden. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images)

While Isak eventually managed to get his demanded move to Liverpool on deadline day, Newcastle United commanding a British record €145m fee, Lookman at time of writing remains mired in Bergamo, and he has nobody to blame but himself.

He has even been included in Atalanta’s UEFA squad for the Champions League, although it remains very much to be seen if he will still be there once the tournament kicks off later this month, as other markets are still open.

The fact the Turkish transfer deadline isn’t until long after the big European leagues have shut up shop is the only reason Victor Osimhen and Nicolò Zaniolo came to Galatasaray in the first place, more rebels who found themselves seduced and abandoned by other clubs.

Why Atalanta’s Lookman request was not unreasonable

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 20: Ademola Lookman of Atalanta reacts during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Atalanta at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 20, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Ultimately, Lookman can complain all he wants about Atalanta not letting him go, but he ought to reserve his ire towards an Inter side that couldn’t push itself to the full €50m asking price.

It was hardly an unreasonable request for a player who is the reigning African Player of the Year, when you see some of the ridiculous fees being paid for players of much less quality.

The same goes for Bayern Munich seemingly proposing a deadline day loan with option to buy for under €30m, a frankly insulting suggestion that Atalanta were quite right to reject outright.

If Lookman’s fans genuinely believe he is as good as they say, then he ought to command a transfer fee that represents fair value on the current market.

The fact nobody was willing to pay that suggests he has not yet outgrown Atalanta, and ought to be angry with his agent for not being able to convince any of the big clubs to shell out €50m.

There are some significant similarities that are worth mentioning between the sagas of Osimhen and Lookman, two Nigeria internationals and African Players of the Year who aimed for the moon and fell short.

ISTANBUL, TURKEY – SEPTEMBER 21: Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray looks on during the Turkish Super big match between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray at Ulker Stadium on September 21, 2024 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)

They both tried to push their way out of clubs who were stung very recently by similar situations and had pledged not to fall into the same trap again, which caused their reticence to buckle to pressure. Curiously, Juventus are the real ‘villains’ of both stories.

Napoli had seen Gonzalo Higuain join their arch-rivals Juve when his €90m release clause was activated, which is the reason now all their contracts have clauses valid only for clubs outside of Italy.

Atalanta didn’t go so far as to formalise that on paper, but did make Lookman a verbal pledge to sell him for the right fee to anyone outside of their direct Serie A rivals.

This was caused by Teun Koopmeiners going on strike last summer to force through his move to Juventus, a scenario La Dea promised not to repeat with Lookman and Inter.

TURIN, ITALY – APRIL 12: Teun Koopmeiners of Juventus celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Juventus and Lecce at Allianz Stadium on April 12, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

At least the Dutchman provided medical notes to avoid training and didn’t run off to London and the Algarve for two weeks, that was plain disrespectful from Lookman, and only made the situation worse.

Can and should Atalanta welcome him back into the fold after this failed escape bid? He already irritated the fans last season by insisting on taking a penalty in the Champions League play-off against Club Brugge, when he has a truly terrible record from the spot. This was never someone who put team above individual glory, unfortunately, but at least it made his behaviour this summer less surprising.

Player power has its limits, even in an era where contracts aren’t worth the paper they’re written on, and we find it frankly hard to feel sorry for someone pocketing huge wages who suddenly regrets the deal he signed in good faith.

If you’re going to burn the bridges behind you, make sure there’s someone genuinely eager to welcome you on the other side first.