Atalanta coach Ivan Juric hopes that his forward, Ademola Lookman, will maintain a “positive attitude” moving forward, especially now that his desired transfer to Inter during the summer has fallen through.
The striker had caused a stir during the pre-season by not reporting for training. This was reportedly a protest after the club turned down Inter`s offer of €40 million plus add-ons, as Lookman believed his valuation should have been at least €50 million.
When no other bids of that magnitude materialized, Lookman was gradually reintegrated into the squad. However, his return initially followed several weeks of what Juric openly criticized as a poor attitude in training sessions.
Having recently played for Nigeria in their World Cup qualifier against Lesotho, Lookman is now expected to be working his way back to peak physical condition.
Lookman`s Challenging Relationship with Atalanta
Speaking to Sport Mediaset, Juric commented, “I am hopeful that he will return from international duty with the same positive mindset that I’ve observed during the past two or three weeks he spent training with us, where I had no reasons for complaint.”
He continued, “His attitude was excellent, truly positive, and my goal is to make up for the time we lost over the summer. He hasn`t reached his optimal form yet, but I anticipate seeing the right dedication from him.”
Atalanta`s attacking options have faced difficulties, operating without both Lookman and the injured Italy international Gianluca Scamacca, which has inevitably impacted their offensive prowess.
“Lookman was recognized as the African Player of the Year, which clearly highlights his capabilities. In a recent match, he played in an unfamiliar position for the first time, demonstrating some good moments, even if a goal was all that was missing,” Juric noted.
Further good news for Atalanta includes the return of Scamacca from injury, along with Nicola Zalewski and Giorgio Scalvini, who are also now available for selection.
“We possess a versatile attack, and everyone is eagerly anticipating Scamacca’s return to his best form, which would give us two formidable central strikers. So far, things are progressing well, though we undoubtedly have room for further improvement,” Juric added.
Juric acknowledged the challenging nature of his role, stepping in after Gian Piero Gasperini’s nine-year tenure, during which Atalanta had become accustomed to a very specific footballing methodology.
“I believe we deserved to accumulate more points than we currently have, and that is a slight source of frustration. I must strive to implement certain changes effectively, but without disrupting the fundamental balance the team has established,” Juric concluded.
