Ademola Lookman: The main reason the Nigerian joined the La Liga giant! | OneFootball

Would he have moved to Bayern Munich?

Getty Images

According to reports from Soccernet Nigeria, Nigerian star Ademola Lookman was close to joining Bayern Munich last summer, but the deal collapsed at the last minute and the German club backed out of the deal.

Before joining Atletico Madrid, the Nigerian star was writing impressive Serie A numbers with Atalanta Bergamo, where last season he managed to score 15 goals and create 5 other goals with the Italian giant, making him one of the best strikers in the top five leagues.

Details: The German club had already reached an agreement with the Nigerian star, but in the end the deal collapsed and Lookman chose to continue his career in the Spanish league instead of the Bundesliga at the start of this season.

Why did Lookman's move to Bayern Munich fall through?

Christian Falk has shed light on how close Ademola Lookman came to joining Bayern Munich last summer. Speaking on the Bayern Insider podcast, the journalist revealed that sporting director Max Eberl had already reached a personal agreement with the Atalanta forward.

The player was on board with the move. The obstacle, however, came from higher up. Atalanta were holding out for a fee in the region of €50 million, a figure that Bayern's leadership—particularly Uli Hoeneß—was unwilling to meet.

Despite Eberl’s approval and Lookman’s willingness to make the switch, the deal collapsed when the board refused to sanction the transfer. Bayern's pursuit of the Nigerian international came to an abrupt end before it could truly begin.

How did Atletico Madrid sign Lookman?

While Bayern deliberated, Inter Milan moved forward with a concrete bid for Ademola Lookman. Atalanta, however, were unwilling to strengthen a direct domestic rival and held firm, keeping the Nigerian at the Gewiss Stadium. But his form soon dipped, and the spark he needed came not in Serie A, but at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

There, Lookman rediscovered his edge—scoring three goals and providing four assists—enough to reignite interest from across Europe. Fenerbahçe and Atlético Madrid entered the race, and it was the Spanish side that eventually secured his signature for €35 million. A fee that, given his early impact, already looks like shrewd business.

Under Diego Simeone, Lookman has slotted seamlessly into the attacking setup. Since arriving last month, he has registered four goals and two assists, quickly establishing himself as a key figure in Atlético's push.