Jurić and Percassi clarify Lookman's situation | OneFootball

Lookman at the heart of the storm at Atalanta

Lookman / @x.com/Alookman_/

The crisis surrounding Nigerian international Ademola Lookman continues at Atalanta. Ahead of the match against Lecce, Croatian coach Ivan Jurić confirmed that the player would not be ready to play, describing the situation as "frustrating and difficult.""As a coach, I feel that the team needs other values: spirit, humility, and a genuine attachment to the Atalanta shirt," Jurić explained.He added: "I have an excellent relationship with Lookman, but I am not going to beg him to play. On the contrary. We are Atalanta and he represents the city. We need what Atalanta stands for."Jurić insisted: "Lookman is a great player, but Atalanta also needs commitment to human values."

Lookman at the heart of the storm at Atalanta

The 27-year-old's summer has been eventful. After officially requesting to leave Atalanta following the club's refusal to accept Inter Milan's €45 million offer, Lookman has not featured in any friendly matches since the end of the 2024-25 season. He rejoined the squad only five days before the start of the new Serie A campaign.In a show of support for his coach, Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi stated: "We recognize Lookman's importance, but the club remains true to its core principles. Players must be fully committed and 100% focused on the team shirt. The decision not to call up Lookman stems from his current situation, and we will continue following this approach."