Atalanta, Ademola Lookman also panned by Ivan Juric: "I want more"
Atalanta soccer market: for Ademola Lookman there is no peace. Having skipped the transfer to Inter after a telenovela that lasted all summer, but also possible transfers to Turkey, the Premier League or Bayern Munich, the Nigerian striker is back training in Bergamo. Despite this, however, he will not be on the field in the Nerazzurri’s match on Sunday afternoon against Lecce. Explaining the reason was his new coach Ivan Juric, who panned him in no uncertain terms.
In the press conference held for the eve of Atalanta-Lecce, Juric was asked about the decision to exclude Lookman from the squad for the match. The Croatian coach did not hide on the issue, answering: “This situation is really difficult and unpleasant, but for tomorrow he will not be ready. As a coach I felt that this group needs other things, such as spirit, humility, feeling the jersey”.
“We are Atalanta, and we have to represent the city of Bergamo with humility and work regardless of the results we manage to get – added Juric. Things must be clear, and the same goes for the responsibilities to be taken. More needs to be given. Then the fact that Lookman is a top player is obvious, but we all believe that Atalanta needs human values. I have a very good relationship with the boy, but I do not have to beg anyone for him to play”.
The Croatian technician had already addressed the Lookman issue in recent weeks, revealing from the pages of the L’Eco di Bergamo: “With me he was correct, he explained his thoughts”. Juric had also stressed the player’s importance to the team’s offensive economy: “We lost players who produced 80-90% of our goals and it will not be easy to replace them. I don’t think someone will come along who can replicate Retegui or Lookman”s numbers in one fell swoop.
Based on these words, it is difficult to see when Lookman can actually be reintegrated into Atalanta, or more specifically find the field again in official matches for the Nerazzurri. Against Lecce, meanwhile, Daniel Maldini and Charles De Ketelaere are likely to complete an offensive department in which the central pivot will be Nikola Krstovic. First alternative Kamaldeen Sulemana.
The saga of Lookman’s non-transfer had reached the culmination in the last weeks of August, when Inter had by then raised the white flag after finding an agreement with the player but not with Atalanta. The Bergamaschi had rejected all offers that had come in, maintaining the hard line: outright transfer for at least 40 million euros or nothing. This stance had prevented them from sinking the blow not only to Inter, but also to Arsenal, Tottenham and Bayern Munich, with the Germans having proposed a 5 million onerous loan with a right of redemption at 28 million.
Galatasaray had also attempted the final assault, with coach Okan Buruk having confirmed the Turkish club’s interest: “We were interested in bringing him to Istanbul. We were convinced we could make it by exploiting the same formula used a year ago with Osimhen”. However, again Atalanta had responded negatively, reiterating that under no circumstances would they let him leave on loan. The Turkish window, which remained open until September 12, had represented the’last chance for a summer transfer of the Nigerian.
