Atletico buys Lookman for N66.8bn

Atletico buys Lookman for N66.8bn

. Super Eagles star to get N11.7bn salary

. Simeone phone call convinced Nigeria to sign

Spanish side, Atletico Madrid pay a sum of €40 million (about N66.8 Billion) to sign away Ademola Lookman from Italian side, Atalanta in the early hours of Sunday.

This is figure is less compared with the N18 billion proposed by Turkish side, Fenerbahce for the Super Eagles star.

However, Atletico's offer to the former Europa Cup winner was higher and that convinced Atalanta to settle for the Spanish team offer.

But, according to reports, Lookman was favourably disposed to the offer from Fenerbahce, he nonetheless changed his mind with an-hour long phone call from Atletico boss, Diego Simeone, who apparently assured him of a starting role in the team. 

According to Repubblica, Lookman will sign a four-year deal worth €7m per season while Atletico will pay €40m to Atalanta to sign the 28-year-old. According to Romano, it’s a €35m deal plus €5m add-ons.

Sources close to the deal have now revealed the key factors that influenced Lookman’s decision, shedding light on why the 28-year-old opted for La Liga over a lucrative offer from Turkey.

According to reports, Lookman held an extensive discussion with Atlético Madrid manager, Diego Simeone that lasted nearly an hour.

“After speaking to Simeone and with a heavy push from the Atlético board, Lookman was convinced about the project and how he would be used in full detail,” Laba explained.

The conversation gave the forward confidence that he would play a central role in Simeone’s plans, which also tipped the scales in favour of Spain over Turkey.

On top of that, Atlético reached a full agreement with Atalanta on the transfer fee, with final details concluded early yesterday morning. 

Lookman has already travelled to Spain for his medical examination.

While Fenerbahce had improved their wage offer, the security of Atlético’s deal and their established interest gave Lookman confidence in choosing the La Liga side.

Finally, Laba revealed that Lookman was determined to leave Atalanta without repeating the uncertainty of last season when Inter Milan’s move fell through.

“He didn’t want what happened with Inter Milan to repeat itself, and that’s why he didn’t wait on Fenerbahce. He refused to risk it,” Laba said.

The Nigeria international will go down as an Atalanta legend, not only because of his 55 goals in 137 games, but especially for his hat-trick in the 2024 Europa League Final against Bayer Leverkusen, which gave La Dea their first major European trophy.

His goals included a hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen in 2024, which secured the club's first European trophy and ended the German side's 51-match unbeaten run.

He was only the sixth player to score a treble in a European club final and the first since 1975.

Lookman went on to be crowned the African Footballer of the Year that same year.