Juric urges Lookman to keep up positive momentum at Atalanta

Atalanta head coach Ivan Juric has called on Ademola Lookman to maintain the positive attitude he’s recently shown, following a turbulent summer marked by transfer drama and training absences.

Lookman had pushed for a move to Inter Milan, going AWOL during pre-season after Atalanta rejected a €40 million offer, insisting the forward was worth at least €50 million. With no other club meeting that valuation, Lookman was gradually reintegrated into the squad, though Juric admitted the striker initially returned with the wrong mindset.

Now, after representing Nigeria in their World Cup qualifier against Lesotho, Juric hopes Lookman can build on the improved spirit he’s shown in recent weeks.

‘I hope he comes back from international duty with the same attitude I saw recently, no complaints, just focus and positivity. He’s not yet at his peak, but I want to recover the time we lost over the summer,’ Juric told Sport Mediaset.

Atalanta’s attacking options have been stretched thin, with Lookman only recently returning and Gianluca Scamacca sidelined through injury. Juric praised Lookman’s versatility, noting his performance in an unfamiliar role during a recent match, where he impressed despite not scoring.

‘Being named African Player of the Year speaks volumes. He adapted well to a new position and showed promise, just missing the goal,’ Juric added.

There’s good news for the Bergamo side, as Scamacca is back in training, joined by Nicola Zalewski and Giorgio Scalvini, boosting the squad’s depth.

‘We’ve got a dynamic attack. Everyone’s eager for Scamacca to hit top form so we can field two strong centre, forwards. Things are going well, but we know we can do better,’ said Juric.