Atalanta manager Ivan Juric has made it clear that he will not plead with Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman to participate in matches, despite Lookman’s recent return to first-team training.
Lookman, 27, had been absent from training earlier this summer after reportedly submitting a transfer request in an attempt to secure a move away from Bergamo. His efforts to leave were unsuccessful, as Atalanta rejected several offers, including multiple bids from Inter Milan.
Speaking ahead of the Serie A fixture against Lecce, Juric acknowledged the unpleasantness of the situation but emphasized that no player is bigger than the club. He noted that he maintains a good relationship with Lookman.
“This is an unpleasant, difficult situation. With Lookman, I have a very good relationship, but I don’t have to beg him to play,” Juric stated to reporters. “On the contrary, we are Atalanta, and we represent the city. We need what Atalanta represents: work, humility. They are different values. I do not have to pray to anyone. We are all convinced that Atalanta needs strong values on a human level.”
Lookman, a star for the Super Eagles who scored a memorable hat-trick in the 2024 Europa League final, was linked to several top European clubs during the transfer window. Despite the interest, no deal was finalized, leading him to return to Atalanta under strained circumstances.
While Juric has permitted Lookman to rejoin full training with the squad, the forward will not participate in the upcoming match against Lecce, as the club seeks to manage both his reintegration and the dynamics within the dressing room.
Atalanta, who finished strongly in Serie A last season, will rely on other attacking options to maintain their momentum in the early weeks of the campaign. Lookman’s future at the Gewiss Stadium remains uncertain, with his role under Juric likely to depend on how quickly he embraces the manager’s philosophy of humility and hard work.
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