Although the transfer season is over but it seems the rift between Nigerian forward, Ademola Lookman and his club, Atalanta will not go anytime soon as coach, Ivan Juric rules out the possibility of playing Lookman this weekend, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports
Lookman has not played competitively, or in any pre-season friendlies for Atalanta since the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
He had seen a move to Inter fall through during the summer transfer window, which led to a series of unfortunate events, including the submission of a formal transfer request and his publishing of a statement going against the club.
While all all dust seems to be settling down and Lookman again back in training even with two games for Nigeria during the September international break, his coach Juric although claimed to have good relationship with but man but he will not beg him.
"Ademola will not be ready for tomorrow,” Juric said during his pre-match press conference via FootballItalia.
“A truly unpleasant and difficult situation,” he continued. “As a coach, I felt that we needed other things: Spirit, humility, passion for the shirt. We need to do better and also take responsibility. You need a sense of belonging.
“I have a very good relationship with Lookman,” Juric insisted. “But, I shouldn’t have to beg him to play. It works the other way around. We are Atalanta and he represents the city. We need what Atalanta represents: Hard work, humility, these are different values.
Lookman returned to Atalanta five days before the start of the 2025-26 Serie A season, and has continued to be left out of Juric’s squad since then.
By Olujimi Dare Ogun