Juric Urges Ademola Lookman to Maintain “Positive Attitude” at Atalanta BC

Ivan Juric head coach of Atalanta BC, has publicly called on forward Ademola Lookman to maintain a “positive attitude” after a difficult summer and an unsettled return to the squad.

Lookman’s transfer request, following a collapsed move to Inter Milan and a period of absence from pre-season training, caused significant disruption.  Juric acknowledged that in the last few weeks Lookman showed improved behaviour in training, though he noted the Nigerian forward was “not yet at his best.”

“Atalanta and I want to make up for the time we lost this summer,” Juric said, emphasising that he expects Lookman to return from international duty with “the same attitude … where I had no complaints.”

The coach added that Lookman has shown good things even when asked to play out of his usual position, but that what Atalanta need now are more than flashes of talent they need consistency, work-rate and commitment.

Editorial

In the modern game, talent alone no longer distinguishes the exceptional from the merely good. When we examine the case of Ademola Lookman at Atalanta, what crystallises is this attitude matters as much as ability.

Juric’s message to Lookman is clear the club demands more than moments of brilliance. They require humility, dedication, and a sustained mentality to match the squad’s aspirations. Lookman’s summer ordeal, from demanding a move to refusing to train, eroded trust. When that happens in elite football, recovery is less about restoring skill and more about rebuilding reputation.

But this is not a cautionary tale only; it is an opportunity. Lookman’s return to training, his acceptance of a positional shift, and Juric’s acknowledgement of “good things” suggest that the narrative could reset. In clubs like Atalanta where identity, effort, and unity are non-negotiable a player who aligns his attitude with those values often finds his career trajectory elevated.

The question now is whether Lookman can take the next step convert sporadic flashes into dependable contribution. Juric has done the hard work of reintegration; the burden now shifts to the player. At this club, every training session, every minute of play, becomes part of a larger story of transformation. If Lookman handles it well, this could re-forge his path if not, the label of squandered potential will loom.

Did You Know?

1. Lookman reportedly skipped parts of Atalanta’s pre-season training in protest at the club rejecting a €40 million plus add-ons bid from Inter Milan.
2. Juric said that after Lookman’s return from Nigeria’s international duty, the player displayed an attitude for “two or three weeks” during which the coach “had no complaints.”
3. Atalanta supporters responded to the reintegration of Lookman with a banner calling him “ungrateful,” indicating the emotional strain his situation caused among the fan base.
4. Lookman once played in a more unfamiliar position for Atalanta showing adaptability, said Juric, though he emphasised that adaptation alone isn’t enough without the right mindset.
5. Juric’s public comments to Lookman emphasise human values “spirit, humility, belonging” underscoring that at Atalanta the inner-character of the player is as important as his on-field contribution.