Atalanta head coach Ivan Juric has explained why Ademola Lookman will not feature against Lecce in Serie A on Sunday.
The Nigeria forward returned to first-team training this week after being frozen out following his attempt to force a summer transfer.
Lookman, 27, skipped sessions and pre-season games to push for a move, but Atalanta refused to sell to Inter Milan, the only club to make an offer.
Juric admitted the saga has left a mark on both the player and the club.
“This is an unpleasant, difficult situation,” he told reporters.
Although Lookman rejoined group training after Nigeria duty in September, Juric insists he is still lacking the commitment required to play.
“As a coach, what I feel is that we need other things: of spirit, of struggle, of humility, of work, of feeling the shirt well,” he said.
Ivan Juric. Photo Credit: Getty Images
The Croatian added that while his relationship with the forward remains good, he will not plead with him to show the right mentality.
“With Lookman, I have a very good relationship, but I don’t have to beg him to play,” Juric stressed. “On the contrary, we are Atalanta, and we represent the city.”
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Juric also underlined the values he expects from every player who wears the shirt.
“We need what Atalanta represents; work, humility, they are different values,” he explained.
“I do not have to pray to anyone. We are all convinced that Atalanta needs strong values on a human level.”
Since arriving at Atalanta from RB Leipzig in 2022 for around €10m, Lookman has become one of Serie A’s most dangerous forwards.
Ademola Lookman(Photo credit: Getty Images)
He hit 17 goals and 10 assists during the 2023/24 campaign, before writing history in May 2024 by scoring a hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, sealing Atalanta’s first European trophy.
Last season he added 20 goals and seven assists across 40 matches, guiding Atalanta to a third-place finish and Champions League qualification.
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Lookman, Africa’s reigning Player of the Year, has not featured for Atalanta this season. His absence is felt, as the Bergamo side are still chasing their first Serie A victory.
