Following reactions to his reintroduction to Atalanta’s 2025/2026 squad, Ademola Lookman and his head coach have clashed for the first time this season.
Ademola Lookman was at the centre of a tense moment during Atalanta’s Champions League clash with Marseille on Wednesday night after clashing with manager Ivan Juric over his substitution.
The Nigerian forward was visibly furious when he was taken off in the 75th minute of the goalless encounter, replaced by Yunus Musah. As he made his way off the pitch, Lookman appeared to exchange heated words with Juric, who then grabbed the player in an attempt to calm him down. The situation quickly escalated on the touchline before members of Atalanta’s coaching staff intervened to separate the pair.
Lookman’s frustration was clear, with the 26-year-old unhappy about being withdrawn while the game was still finely poised. The Atalanta bench looked tense as the winger was led away, still gesturing toward his manager in protest.
Despite the incident, Atalanta went on to secure a dramatic late victory, with Lazar Samardzic scoring a last-minute winner to seal all three points and lift the Serie A side to 16th in the Champions League league-phase table.
Speaking after the match, Juric downplayed the altercation, describing it as a normal part of football’s high emotions. “These things happen everywhere,” the Croatian coach told reporters. “Players never like being substituted—it happens to the best, even De Bruyne. There’s adrenaline and frustration, but it all ends in the locker room. What matters is Atalanta, the team, and our fans. Everything is clarified now, and we move forward.”
Juric, who took charge of Atalanta in the summer following his dismissal from Southampton, defended his decision to bring off Lookman, citing fixture congestion. “This was our sixth game in 17 days. We needed fresh legs. Yunus Musah was fantastic when he came on and helped us change the game.”
Lookman, who has been one of Atalanta’s key players this season, has yet to publicly comment on the incident. The forward will hope to put the episode behind him as the club continues its push to progress further in the Champions League.
