Atalanta head coach Ivan Juric confirms Ademola Lookman won’t play against Lecce, describing the situation as ‘truly unpleasant’.
Atalanta’s head coach, Ivan Juric, has confirmed that star player Ademola Lookman will not feature in the team’s upcoming match against Lecce in Serie A this weekend. Juric described the situation surrounding Lookman as “very difficult” and “truly unpleasant,” highlighting the tension between the player and the club.
Lookman has been at odds with Atalanta since the end of the 2024-25 campaign, pushing for a move away from the club during the summer transfer window. A €45 million bid from Inter Milan was rejected, leading Lookman to hand in a formal transfer request and accuse the club of breaking promises and treating him poorly.
The Nigerian international returned to Atalanta after his Inter move fell through, but has largely trained on his own, sparking concerns about his availability for the team’s matches. Juric’s comments suggest that Lookman’s situation is far from resolved.
The situation has drawn criticism from Juric, who believes that the fans are the ones most penalized by the ongoing saga. “When a player tries to force a club’s hand, it is the fans who are penalized more than anyone,” Juric said,
As the situation continues to unfold, Atalanta fans will be watching closely to see how Lookman’s story plays out. With the team’s upcoming fixtures, including a crucial match against Lecce and a Champions League encounter with Paris Saint-Germain, Juric will need to find a way to manage the situation and ensure the team’s success.
