Juric Criticises Ademola Lookman, Rules Him Out of Lecce Clash

Atalanta head coach Ivan Juric has openly criticised Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman, confirming that the player will not feature in Sunday’s Serie A clash against Lecce.

The remarks mark a new chapter in the tense relationship between the 27-year-old and the club following a turbulent summer.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Saturday, Juric made it clear that Lookman’s exclusion was not just down to fitness issues.

“Ademola will not be ready for tomorrow,” the coach said. “We need spirit, humility, passion for the shirt. I shouldn’t have to beg him to play. It works the other way around. We are Atalanta, and he represents the city. What we need is hard work and humility—those are our values.”

Lookman, who has yet to play a competitive match this season, was absent throughout pre-season, skipping friendlies after a chaotic summer in which a potential move to Inter Milan collapsed. Frustrated by the failed transfer, he submitted a request to leave and even issued a public statement criticising Atalanta before travelling to the UK to train alone.

The forward only rejoined the Bergamo-based side five days before the Serie A campaign began, leaving him behind his teammates in preparation. His lack of match fitness and apparent attitude concerns have now left him sidelined by Juric, who stressed the importance of commitment over individual talent.

Despite Juric’s insistence that his relationship with Lookman remains “very good,” his comments underline the growing uncertainty over the player’s long-term future with Atalanta. With no competitive action yet this season and his role in the squad unclear, speculation about another potential transfer window exit is expected to intensify in the coming months.