Ademola Lookman: Atalanta CEO reacts to transfer turmoil
Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi has spoken out about the uncertain futures of key players Ademola Lookman and Teun Koopmeiners, following growing interest from top European clubs.
The two players were instrumental in Atalanta’s UEFA Europa League victory last season, with Lookman notably scoring a hat-trick in the final against Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
In recent developments, both players have made headlines for their actions off the pitch. Koopmeiners opted to stay out of La Dea’s squad ahead of their UEFA Super Cup clash against Real Madrid due to interest from Juventus. Shortly after, Lookman made a similar decision, choosing to sit out Atalanta’s league game against Lecce amid speculation linking him to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
Expressing his frustration over the situation, Percassi emphasized the importance of maintaining the club’s identity and objectives despite the actions of the players. “We are Atalanta. We must retain our identity and have clear objectives,” Percassi said, according to quotes from Sky Sports Italia. He acknowledged the club’s initial intention to keep all their key players following an extraordinary campaign but admitted that the transfer market’s unpredictability has created challenges.
“We didn’t expect certain things to happen, but the club is prepared to invest if there are opportunities, and we’ll see what happens over the next few days,” Percassi added, indicating that Atalanta might be forced to reconsider their stance on keeping the players.
Despite the turmoil, Percassi insisted that the club remains committed to their goals and has always respected their commitments. However, he criticized the current transfer window’s timing, noting that it has created an endless cycle of speculation and unrest, particularly with leagues like Saudi Arabia extending their transfer periods.
Atalanta is reportedly seeking at least €40 million for Lookman, but they are deeply frustrated by PSG’s direct approach to the player, which included a lucrative offer to more than double his salary to €4.5 million per season from his current €1.8 million.
As the transfer window edges closer to its conclusion, Atalanta faces tough decisions regarding the futures of two of their most important players, with the club’s leadership determined to act in the best interest of the team.
