Soccer
Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman gaining interest from Napoli. [Photo Credit/ Imago].
Atalanta President Luca Percassi has played down Napoli’s interest in Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman, clarifying he’s not for sale, Soccernet.ng reports.
Antonio Conte’s side were keen on making a move for the former Fulham winger during the summer transfer window, but he turned them down as he wanted to join Inter Milan.
Atalanta, meanwhile, made it clear that Lookman wouldn’t be joining another Italian side. In an attempt to force a move, the 28-year-old chose not to train with the rest of the team.
The decision backfired as he lost his form, alongside his fitness, and he struggled for goals when he was finally reinstated into the first team.
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Soccer Napoli reignite their pursuit of Ademola Lookman
The AFCON 2025 tournament was a good break from club football for Lookman. The 2024 CAF Player of the Year was the player with the most goal contributions in Morocco, and that has put him on the radar of several top clubs again.
Napoli have been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League this season despite Antonio Conte’s plea for reinforcements in the transfer market.
With success in Europe out of the picture, the Napoli bosses are now prepared to back Conte with signings, so they can at least achieve something in the league.
The reigning Scudetto winners are currently nine points behind league leaders Napoli; hence, their pursuit of Lookman.
As per Fanta Calcio, the idea of the Nigerian has been floated in Naples again, and they’re prepared to launch a loan bid for the one-time UEFA Europa League winner.
However, should the attempt fail, they have other options on their list; Sporting Lisbon’s Alisson Santos and Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s Martin Terrier are other targets for Napoli.
Atalanta: Luca Percassi shuns Lookman’s exit
Prior to Atalanta’s loss to Union Saint-Gilloise in their final UEFA Champions League group phase game, the club President Percassi, addressed transfer talks linking Lookman to Turkey and other clubs.
“Does Lookman stay until the end of the season? The arrival of Raspadori was a market opportunity that did not presuppose the disposal of another player,” the 45-year-old said in quotes revealed by FC Inter.
“We are happy that Giacomo [Raspadori] has chosen Atalanta, he is an important player like Ademola, who tonight returns to be the starter. We just want to do well, in short,” Luca Percassi concluded.
Lookman has yet to start a game for Atalanta since he returned from the AFCON 2025 tournament, but the club’s head coach, Raffaele Palladino, clarified he’s only trying to manage the load on the Nigerian to prevent an injury.
Adefolahan Guerreiro
Adefolahan is a multilingual sports journalist and football writer whose work spans outlets like Soccernet Nigeria, Pure Football UK, and Royalsportz.
With a sharp eye for detail and a background in college sports, he tells the African football story with depth, flair, and global perspective.
Fluent in English, Spanish, and German, he brings a cross-cultural voice to his coverage, blending insight with accessibility for readers around the world.
His portfolio includes interviews with top Nigerian stars like Finidi George, Junior Lokosa, Sikiru Alimi, Sodiq Ismaila, and Abraham Onahi Ogbu.
A devoted Borussia Dortmund fan, Adefolahan thrives on the emotion and rhythm of the beautiful game. Away from work, he’s a sci-fi enthusiast and series lover who enjoys exploring how sport, storytelling, and culture collide.
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