Ademola Lookman is back in Atalanta’s squad after his push for a switch to Inter Milan failed to materialize. Head coach Ivan Juric has accepted him into the group but suggested the Nigerian attacker was poorly guided during the episode.
The forward sat out Atalanta’s first three Serie A games of the season, training separately while pressing for a move. Club officials refused to sell to a domestic rival, and with the window closed, Lookman eventually returned. He featured briefly on Sunday, coming on in stoppage time of Atalanta’s 3–0 victory over Torino, where Nikola Krstovic netted twice and Kamaldeen Sulemana added the third.
Juric explained that Lookman addressed both him and the rest of the squad once he rejoined, admitting the influence of outside voices had been harmful. “He spoke to me and the team on Monday. He was surrounded by people who had given him some bad advice,” the coach said, quoted by FotMob. He added, “He has a great winning mentality, and now we need to get him back in shape physically.”
The fallout between player and club had reached a peak when Lookman accused Atalanta of unfair treatment through social media posts,before making his way to Uk for personal training sessions.
With no deal secured and the season approaching, he reversed course and returned just days before the opener.
Supporters, however, remain divided. In Bergamo, a banner was displayed reading, “No. 11 reintegrated, but for us, you remain ungrateful,” showing that many fans still feel betrayed despite his past heroics in the club’s colors.
Juric’s decision to restore him comes at a crucial time, with fellow strikers Charles De Ketelaere and Gianluca Scamacca struggling with fitness. Lookman, who delivered a hat-trick in the 2023/24 Europa League final and reached a career-high tally of 20 goals last term, could be decisive as Atalanta prepare to face Juventus in Turin before meeting Club Brugge in the Champions League.
