Former Italian international Ciro Ferrara has sparked renewed debate after suggesting that Ademola Lookman would have found it difficult to secure regular playing time had his proposed summer move to Inter Milan gone through, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Lookman’s potential transfer to Inter dominated headlines throughout the summer window, with the Nigerian forward reportedly informing Atalanta of his intention to leave. The saga dragged on for weeks, reaching a breaking point when the 26-year-old publicly demanded a move and skipped training for over a week in an attempt to force the transfer.

Although Inter reportedly agreed personal terms with Lookman — including a five-year contract — Atalanta CEO Antonio Percassi stood firm, refusing to sanction the move. He maintained that while the club had promised Lookman an exit in 2025, they would not sell him to a direct Serie A rival.

Frustrated by the decision, Lookman accused Atalanta of breaking their promise. In protest, he went on a two-week strike, missed training without approval, and deleted all Atalanta-related posts from his social media pages.

Despite Inter submitting a final €45 million bid, Atalanta rejected the offer, forcing the Nerazzurri to end negotiations and explore other options.

With the dust now settled, Ferrara has reignited the conversation, insisting that even if the move had materialised, Lookman might have struggled to adapt to Cristian Chivu’s tactical setup.

“Lookman would have been on the bench at Inter,” Ferrara said in an interview with L’Interazzurro. “To include him, you’d have had to change a lot — starting with the formation. Even if he’s a quality player, it would mean disrupting a system that’s already well-established.”

Lookman has made three appearances for Atalanta so far this season but is yet to record a goal or assist. He earned his first Serie A start of the campaign in Saturday’s clash against Como, but endured a frustrating outing before being substituted in the 73rd minute.