Italian employment lawyer Michele La Francesca believes Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman can terminate his contract with “just clause.”La Francesco explained in a Twitter thread that the alleged a...
Italian employment lawyer Michele La Francesca believes Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman can terminate his contract with “just clause.”
La Francesco explained in a Twitter thread that the alleged agreement on a summer transfer between Lookman and Atalanta would violate employment law if it contained a non-compete clause.
It is certainly no secret that Ademola Lookman wants to join Inter Milan.
Furthermore, the Atalanta forward has openly hit out at his current club for purportedly breaking a promise to him.
Lookman had already asked to leave Atalanta last summer, with Paris Saint-Germain making an offer.
La Dea kept hold of Lookman, However, they did so with an agreement that they would allow the player to depart this summer.
Lookman: come ho già scritto, l’accordo per la cessione tra il club e il calciatore è pacifico poiché ammesso da entrambe le parti. Che fosse valido solo per l’estero lo dice l’Atalanta. Tuttavia, se fosse come sostenuto dal club, questo accordo sarebbe nullo poiché (segue) https://t.co/9PZjULHOnv — Michele La Francesca (@miklafranc) August 10, 2025
Now, Lookman wants to leave for Inter. However, Atalanta have already rejected two bids from the Nerazzurri.
Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi has openly said that La Dea don’t want to sell Lookman to a team in Serie A. That is a part of the agreement from last summer.
However, an Italian employment lawyer has a different perspective on the situation.
Italian Employment Lawyer Claims “Ademola Lookman Can Terminate Atalanta Contract With Just Cause”
BERGAMO, ITALY – MAY 12: Ademola Lookman of Atalanta warms up prior to the Serie A match between Atalanta and AS Roma at Gewiss Stadium on May 12, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Italian employment lawyer Michela La Francesca explains that “the agreement on a transfer between club and player is undisputed, both parties admit it.”
“Atalanta claim that it’s only valid for transfers abroad,” he continues.
“However, if it were as the club claims, then this agreement would be null and void. Because it would constitute a non-compete clause, which is prohibited by Article 26 of the Legistlative Decree number 36/21, paragraph 6.”
La Francesca explains that this article stipulates that “A contract cannot contain non-compete clauses. Or any clauses that limit the professional freedom of an athlete for the period following the termination of the contract itself.”
“Nor can it be integrated, during the course of the relationship, with such provisions.”
“With that said, it seems unlikely that the parties were unaware of this rule and entered ino a substantially void agreement,” La Francesca writes.
“The player’s version (that the parties reached an agreement on a transfer at a fixed fee) is therefore more plausible.”
“From this perspective, invoking =Article 14 of the FIFA Regulations (which would allow Lookman to be released with ‘just cause’ considering the club’s unfair conduct) would be a feasible option,” writes La Francesca.
Category: General Sports
