Sport
Inter Milan Walks Away From Signing Lookman After Atalanta Refuse to Lower Price
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.
French football pundit Walid Acherchour has named Lamine Yamal as his pick to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, sparking reactions among football fans.
Acherchour’s choice came as a surprise to some fans, who expected him to support fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappé instead.
Speaking about his prediction, Acherchour expressed confidence in Yamal’s chances of winning the prestigious individual award.
“For me, Lamine Yamal, he is going to get it [2026 Ballon d’Or]. For me, there’s no doubt anymore,” Acherchour said, as quoted by Actu Foot. That start to the season shows that in fact, he was injured during the World Cup. He was the best player in La Liga, and he won the World Cup.
“Even if, for me, in fact, he doesn’t have the Ballon d’Or unanimously because his World Cup was average, even being average, he won it with Spain. He won La Liga with Barça.”
Former Manchester City player David Silva has shared his thoughts on the 2026 Ballon d’Or and revealed who he believes could win the prestigious award.
During a recent interview, the former midfielder was asked who he thinks will win the award, and he named Fabian Ruiz.
Silva’s choice sparked reactions from fans, especially as he did not mention Barcelona star Lamine Yamal as one of his picks.
“For me, teamwork is the most important thing, because without it you cannot win. If I had to give the Ballon d’Or to someone, it would be Fabian, because he has won the most titles in the last two years.
“He does not get enough recognition, I do not know why, because he is a wonderful player. I admire him a lot.”
Cristiano Ronaldo’s future with the Portugal national team remains uncertain following his sudden departure from the squad ahead of the team’s Nations League match against Denmark.
The 41-year-old forward left the national team camp after he was left on the bench during Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway and was informed that he would not start against Denmark. Ronaldo later said he would explain his decision to leave the camp at a later time.
Portugal coach Jorge Jesus has since said the door remains open for Ronaldo to return to the national team. Jesus said the decision ultimately rests with Ronaldo, while the Portuguese Football Federation has also described the situation as a misunderstanding.
Ronaldo remains Portugal’s all-time leading scorer, with 146 goals in 234 appearances, and his next decision could determine how his international career ends.
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