'Lookman received bad advice' — Italian pundit blames entourage for Inter transfer saga

Italian football pundit Alfredo Pedullà has weighed in on Ademola Lookman’s ongoing transfer standoff, suggesting that the Nigerian forward has been misguided by his entourage.

Speaking on The Italian Football Podcast, Pedullà described the saga involving Inter, Atalanta, and Arsenal as a situation that “doesn’t look good for anyone.”

Lookman returned to Bergamo after weeks of uncertainty, during which he skipped Atalanta’s pre-season training and spent time between London and Portugal.

The situation escalated when Atalanta rejected Inter’s €45m offer, maintaining they would only sell the forward abroad. Pedullà questioned Lookman’s decisions, saying, “Atalanta pay his salary, they make bank transfers to him, they pay him a lot of money.

“So I ask myself and I ask you: why is he in London? Why is he convinced that someone will come along and liberate him?”

He added that refusing to attend training stretched the boundaries of professionalism, pointing out that while other players, like Ardon Jashari, expressed transfer desires, they still respected club commitments.

What makes the situation more unusual is that Atalanta and Inter recently concluded a deal for Nicola Zalewski without addressing Lookman’s case.

Pedullà admitted the saga is “difficult to explain” and highlighted Arsenal’s past interest but confirmed there is “no offer from Arsenal right now.”

Reflecting on the drama, Pedullà summed up his concerns, saying, “They gave Lookman bad advice. The advice that Lookman has received isn’t good at all. It is a situation that I don’t like, a situation that doesn’t look good for anyone.”

Lookman’s transfer saga is one that is expected to go on until the final seconds of the transfer deadline, with the Nigerian’s future still quite uncertain.