Nigeria Players Abroad
“It’s a shame It’s come to this” – Ivan Juric breaks silence on Lookman transfer saga
By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Atalanta head coach Ivan Juric has expressed disappointment over the ongoing transfer standoff involving Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman, admitting the situation is now beyond his control.
Speaking to L’Eco di Bergamo, Juric revealed that Lookman has made his intentions clear, having formally requested a transfer and remained absent from first-team training for several weeks.
“Ademola was very fair with me, he explained his thoughts to me. We have to accept the situation,” Juric stated.
“It’s a shame it’s come to this. I coached the team when he had a calf problem, and after that, all this happened—so it didn’t have any impact.”
The 27-year-old has been pushing for a move away from Bergamo, with Inter Milan identified as his preferred destination. However, negotiations have stalled after Atalanta rejected a €45 million bid from Inter, holding firm on their €50 million valuation.
Despite the deadlock, Inter remain keen on signing the Nigerian international and have not withdrawn from the race.
Juric also acknowledged the challenge of replacing Lookman, who, along with recent departures, was central to the club’s attacking output.
“We’ve lost players who were responsible for 80–90% of our goals,” the coach lamented. “It won’t be easy to replace them. I don’t think anyone will arrive who can match Mateo Retegui or Lookman’s performances in one fell swoop, but we need to strengthen intelligently. Those already here must grow and get closer to that level.”
Lookman remains resolute in his desire to leave and continues to push for a resolution before the transfer window closes, with Inter Milan still optimistic about reaching an agreement.
