By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
The standoff between Ademola Lookman and Atalanta shows no sign of easing, with tensions deepening following a turbulent summer transfer window marked by missed opportunities and broken promises.
The Nigerian forward, who pushed for a move away from Bergamo, refused to train with Ivan Juric’s squad during preseason.
Although registered for all competitions, Lookman has since been training in isolation, underlining the fractured relationship between player and club.
Head coach Juric admitted the situation has become untenable.
“Lookman won’t be with us. It’s a truly unpleasant situation. After a meeting with him, I feel we need other things – spirit, fight, humility, work, guys who have to feel the shirt well. Our guys have to do that. I don’t want anything else,” Juric said.
“I want a different human level, a different sense of belonging. I have a good relationship with him, but I don’t have to ask him. Damn, we’re Atalanta, I don’t have to beg him. He needs strong, human values.”
Atalanta’s winless start to the season has fueled debate among fans and pundits, many of whom believe reintegrating Lookman could have bolstered the attack.
However, the 26-year-old and his representatives remain aggrieved over the collapse of a proposed move to Inter Milan, with January emerging as a possible turning point as he enters the final year of his contract.
For now, the impasse persists — leaving both club and player locked in a stalemate that threatens to define Atalanta’s season.
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.
