The Truth Behind Barcelona’s Rejection of Lookman
The report indicates that Lookman had been under observation since 2024, with communications made and an offer extended to him to join, but the Catalan club initially preferred other options, deciding last summer not to proceed with the deal due to salary cap limitations, especially with the confirmation of Marcus Rashford’s loan arrival.
Lookman caught attention in the 2024 Europa League final when he scored a hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen, an impressive performance witnessed directly by sporting director Deco, which strengthened his reputation as a distinguished offensive player on the international level.
The newspaper confirmed that the relationship between Lookman’s entourage and Barcelona was good, as the player is represented by the same agency that represents goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, with whom a long-term contract renewal was previously agreed.
In 2024, Lookman was on Barcelona’s radar, but the priority was to sign Dani Olmo, who better fit the team’s plans, while the Nigerian remained excluded despite the low cost of the deal. In 2025, the player became available again, but Barcelona was unable to invest, leading the club to complete Rashford’s loan deal, while doors closed on his move to Inter Milan.
The newspaper highlighted that Lookman’s transfer to Atletico Madrid came after a series of tensions between the player and Atalanta, marking his first successful experience with the Madrid club, where he shone in his debut against Real Betis in the Spanish Cup, delivering a remarkable offensive performance.
Mateo Alemany capitalized on the timing perfectly to secure a player not previously bet on by major clubs or Barcelona, noting that Lookman remains an inconsistent player, but his debut with Atletico was considered highly impressive.
