Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman is in a tight corner at Atalanta after refusing to train in an attempt to force through a transfer to Inter Milan.

The 27-year-old winger has reportedly left Italy altogether, escalating tensions with his Italian club just days after they rejected an official bid from the Nerazzurri.

Lookman’s stand-off began last week when he deleted all Atalanta-related posts from his social media accounts and submitted a formal transfer request.

The reigning CAF Men’s Player of the Year winner also accused the Bergamo club of breaching a verbal agreement that would have allowed him to move to Inter this summer, Score Nigeria reports.

🚨💣 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Ademola Lookman has not shown up for training for the third day in a row and rumours are, he has completely left Italy. pic.twitter.com/snlA0Ri9CQ

— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) August 6, 2025

Since then, Lookman has cut all communication with the Serie A side, prompting Atalanta to explore disciplinary and legal options.

Four possible sanctions Lookman could face

Reports from Football Italia suggest Atalanta is ready to impose strict penalties on Lookman after the Nigerian decided to leave Italy in a bid to force a transfer this summer.

Under football regulations, players who go absent without official leave (AWOL) are open to fines, suspensions, and other sanctions.

1. Fines for breach of contract

The most immediate punishment Lookman could face is a deduction in wages.

Clubs typically fine players for each day they miss training without authorisation, and in some cases, the penalties can extend to multiple weeks’ wages.

For a player of Lookman’s status, that could mean a significant financial hit as Atalanta would be within their rights to enforce this under Italian league rules and FIFA’s player contract guidelines.

2. Suspension from matches

Beyond monetary penalties, Atalanta could also freeze Lookman out of competitive fixtures if his bid to join Inter Milan fails to materialise.

This would mean leaving him out of matchday squads entirely, not only weakening his chances of staying in form but also sending a message to other players about the consequences of breaching discipline.

For Lookman, such a suspension would be damaging to his career, especially with the 2026 World Cup qualifiers coming up.

3. Demotion to the reserve team

Another possible sanction would be to demote Lookman to the youth or reserve teams.

While not as high-profile as a suspension, this tactic is often used to isolate unsettled players from the first-team environment.

It also serves to reduce match sharpness and potentially devalue the player’s transfer appeal, a move that could work against Lookman’s own objectives in forcing a move to Inter Milan

4. Legal action for damages

If the situation escalates, Atalanta could take their case beyond the training ground and into the legal arena.

Should the club deem Lookman’s absence a serious breach of contract, they could seek damages through the Italian Football Federation or even FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber.

Such cases are rare but not unheard of, and they often have long-lasting implications for a player’s career.

When will the saga end?

With the transfer window still open, there remains a possibility that Atalanta and Inter Milan could reach a compromise.

However, if neither side backs down, Lookman risks facing multiple sanctions that could affect both his wallet and his playing future.