Inter Milan showed concrete interest in Ademola Lookman, the promising winger from Atalanta Bergamo, with an initial official offer of €40 million plus €5 million in bonuses. This proposal, submitted in early July 2025, aimed to convince the Bergamo club to release their offensive talent, who had a remarkable season in Serie A. However, Atalanta quickly rejected the offer as insufficient, demanding a sum close to €50 million. Despite Inter increasing the offer to about €45 million including bonuses, they failed to persuade Atalanta, which remained firm on their valuation. Lookman himself applied pressure by publicly requesting a transfer and boycotting training sessions in early August.
Facing this persistent refusal and the approaching end of the summer transfer window, Inter Milan decided to halt negotiations for Lookman and abandon this offensive pursuit. This decision was strengthened by satisfaction with preseason performances of Ange-Yoan Bonny and Francesco Pio Esposito, and a strategic shift focusing on recruiting a midfielder, particularly targeting Manu Kone from AS Roma.
Meanwhile, other clubs such as Napoli are reportedly planning a more lucrative approach, with an estimated offer of €52 million, which could finalize Lookman’s departure from Atalanta to another European club. This transfer saga highlights the financial and strategic challenges faced by major Italian clubs as the new season approaches.
