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Atalanta appoints Ivan Juric as head coach amid uncertainty over Lookman’s future

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Atalanta appoints Ivan Juric as head coach amid uncertainty over Lookman’s future

By Oluwadamilola Olaleye

Atalanta have named Ivan Juric as their new head coach following the departure of Gian Piero Gasperini, ending an eight-year tenure that saw the club rise to prominence in Italian and European football.

The managerial change comes at a crucial time for the club, with Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman’s future at the Gewiss Stadium now uncertain. Lookman played a key role in Atalanta’s Europa League triumph this season, including a standout performance in the final, but his long-term commitment to the club remains unresolved.

Tensions between Lookman and Gasperini earlier this year—sparked by a missed penalty in a UEFA Champions League clash against Club Brugge—reportedly strained their relationship, though it was eventually patched up. Gasperini’s exit may now influence the forward’s next move.

Several top European clubs, including Barcelona, Juventus, and Liverpool, are reportedly monitoring the 26-year-old, though no formal offers have been tabled. With Lookman entering a decisive phase of his career, it remains to be seen whether Juric’s appointment will convince him to stay or trigger a move abroad.

Juric joins Atalanta after a brief and unsuccessful stint at Southampton, who were relegated from the Premier League. A clause in his contract allowed him to leave the club, and he now returns to Serie A, where he previously managed Torino and Hellas Verona.

Atalanta will hope Juric’s experience in Italian football and reputation for tactical discipline can sustain the momentum built under Gasperini and help stabilize the squad ahead of the new season.

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Samuel Ahmadu
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
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