Inter Milan have decided to step back from the chase to sign Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman after weeks of back-and-forth talks with Atalanta failed to produce an agreement. The move, which at first looked like it was edging closer, has now fallen apart because both clubs refused to shift ground.

Inter were very keen on bringing the Nigerian international to the San Siro after his remarkable season in Italy, but their offers didn’t convince Atalanta. The Milan side reportedly put around €40 million on the table with the promise of bonuses that could push it slightly higher, but Atalanta were not interested.

They wanted a straight €50 million in cash, insisting that anything less was not worth discussing. Even when Inter improved the package to over €42 million plus add-ons, Atalanta still waved it off. The Bergamo club also refused any idea of spread payments or loan deals, demanding that if Inter truly wanted their star man, they had to pay in full and upfront.

For Lookman, the situation has been frustrating. The 26-year-old had made it clear he wanted the move, especially after shining last season with double-digit goals in Serie A and a hat-trick in the Europa League final. Reports suggest he was even willing to reduce his salary just to make the transfer possible.

Recently, Lookman deleted almost every Atalanta-related post from his social media, stayed away from pre-season training for a few days, and went as far as handing in a formal transfer request. He also accused the club of breaking earlier promises to let him leave if the right opportunity came.

Despite his actions, Atalanta’s management has not blinked.

Club chiefs stressed that Lookman is still under contract until 2027 and will only be sold on their terms. They also hinted that any move within Italy was never part of the original agreement when Lookman joined, which makes the Inter pursuit even more complicated.