By our reporter 13.2.2026
Fenerbahce of Turkey were front runners to sign Ademola Lookman, but out of the blues Atletico Madrid of Spain emerged and signed the Nigerian star striker.
Explaining why Fenerbahce could not seal the deal, the club’s vice president Murat Salar said they were insulted by Atalanta, Lookman’s former Italian club during negotiations. He said Atalanta who frustrated Lookman’s move during the summer window demand that Fenerbahce table a bank guarantee before they could sell the player.
“We took this as an insult to ourselves,” Salar told the club’s official television channel as per Turkiye Today.
“We said, ‘Which bank’s reputation is higher than the 120-year-old Fenerbahce club?’”
Atletico signed Lookman on January transfer deadline, and they have been rewarded instantly. In his first match against Real Betis Lookman scored in their 5-0 win in the Copa Del Rey contest and on Thursday in another Cope Del Rey match against Barcelona, Lookman scored and made an assist in Atletico’s 4-0 win against Barcelona.
It was the first time Atletico would be beating Barcelona with a high score. The second leg of the encounter comes up March 3. A win for the Diego Simeone managed side will see them in the final of the Spanish Cup they won in 2024.