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“It’s difficult to guess” – Atalanta coach Ivan Juric still not ruling out Lookman exit

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“It’s difficult to guess” – Atalanta coach Ivan Juric still not ruling out Lookman exit

By Wale Mustapha

Atalanta head coach Ivan Juric has once again addressed the uncertainty surrounding the future of Nigerian winger Ademola Lookman, admitting he remains unsure whether the player will still be part of the club this season.

Lookman submitted a transfer request earlier this month in a bid to force a move to Inter Milan, but Atalanta rejected the request and stood firm on their stance that the forward would not be allowed to leave.

However, the deal eventually collapsed after Inter pulled out, forcing Lookman to return to training last week. Despite rejoining the squad, the 26-year-old has yet to be fully reintegrated into the team.

Speaking after Atalanta’s 1-1 draw with Parma, Juric confessed that the situation remains delicate.

“I don’t know anything about Lookman. It’s difficult to hazard a guess on what will happen or if he will remain,” the coach said.

“For now, he’s still our player, but many things could be happening behind the scenes. Transfer situations are unpredictable, so we will see.”

The uncertainty leaves Lookman’s future hanging in the balance as the transfer window edges closer to its conclusion, with clubs across Europe still monitoring the situation.

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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. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey 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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