Ademola Lookman: Why African Player of the Year Nearly Came to Blows With His Atalanta Coach

Ademola Lookman was involved in a heated sideline confrontation with his manager, Ivan Juric, on Wednesday night, requiring teammates and club officials to intervene.

The incident occurred after the 26-year-old former Premier League player was substituted in the 75th minute of a tense match while the score was still 0-0. Visibly frustrated with the decision, Lookman exchanged words with Juric upon reaching the dugout.

The argument quickly escalated, with the Atalanta boss grabbing his player before CEO Luca Percassi and teammate Marten de Roon stepped in to separate the two. Lookman appeared shocked and angered by the physical nature of the confrontation.

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According to reports from Gazzetta dello Sport, the pair spoke again after the final whistle, though it remains unclear whether the conversation was an attempt to resolve the issue or a continuation of their dispute.

This public fallout is not the first sign of friction between the Nigerian international and the club. Earlier this year, Juric heavily criticised the player after a match, describing him as "one of the worst penalty takers I've ever seen."

Lookman responded publicly to those comments on social media, expressing his disappointment.

"Being singled out in the manner I have been not only hurts but feels deeply disrespectful," he wrote. "Not least because of the immense hard work and commitment I have always put in each and every day to help bring success to this club and to the incredible fans of Bergamo."

The relationship soured further during the summer transfer window when Lookman attempted to secure a move away from the club. Despite a reported £32 million bid from Inter Milan and interest from other top sides like PSG, a deal never materialised.

Frustrated by the situation, Lookman released another statement criticising the club's handling of his potential departure.

"Despite now receiving an offer in alignment to what I believe had been discussed, sadly the club are blocking the opportunity for reasons I do not understand," he stated. "After many months of broken promises and what I feel has been poor treatment... sadly I feel I have no choice but to speak out."

Although an exit was blocked and Lookman was reintegrated into the squad, this latest clash with Juric suggests his future in Bergamo is once again uncertain, potentially paving the way for a January transfer.

Since joining Atalanta from RB Leipzig in 2022 for a bargain £13 million, Lookman has become a pivotal player, scoring 40 goals in 99 appearances and famously netting a hat-trick in the club's historic Europa League final victory in the 2022-23 season.