Fabrizio explains 'different' Atalanta strategy which affected Lookman's transfer

Transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has explained why Inter had difficulties signing Ademola Lookman for Atalanta, explaining a unique transfer policy which makes dealing with La Dea complicated. 

The Nerrazurri submitted two bids for Lookman in the summer, the highest reaching €45 million. However, Atalanta rejected both, demanding more. 

However, the specific figure the Bergamo-based side were demanding was unclear. Also, Lookman went on strike and released a statement claiming that he had an agreement with Atalanta and that Inter reached the required price point. 

The Italian transfer journalist discussed Lookman's failed transfer to Inter, explaining that Atalanta stuck to their guns. 

“It seemed done. What was missing for Lookman at Inter? The agreement with Atalanta, which must be acknowledged, has always maintained its position,” Romano said, per the Sun. “For Atalanta, those 42 million plus bonuses were not enough to get to 45.”

He further explained that Atalanta have a transfer strategy in which they do not put a price tag on a player, stating that that also contributed to discouraging Inter. 

“Inter did not want to spend more also because Atalanta adopts a different strategy: the price in some cases I do not indicate. For them it was not for sale, so the price did not exist.

“Brighton does the same. ‘Do you want Lookman? Make the offer and I say yes or no.’ The message is this. Surely this was the fundamental issue; there was no agreement, despite the pressure from the player and Inter’s optimism, but Atalanta held its position to the end.

“Inter offered €45 million at the end of July for Lookman and since then the club has never made any other offers for him; perhaps it understood that Atalanta’s wall was too high.”