Nigeria international, Ademola Lookman’s return to Atalanta’s first-team has been met with hostility from sections of the club’s support, Soccernet.ng reports.
Lookman’s expected reintegration into the Atalanta first team picture may not go down smoothly as some of the club’s fans have branded the Nigerian forward ‘ungrateful’ in a banner unveiled in Bergamo this week.
The 26-year-old had been frozen out since the start of the campaign following a bitter standoff with the club hierarchy.
Lookman submitted a transfer request in August after Atalanta rejected a €45m bid from Inter Milan, then accused the club of mishandling his situation in a lengthy Instagram post.
The Super Eagles attacker skipped much of pre-season, opting instead to spend weeks in England before rejoining the squad just five days before the Serie A season began. Head coach Ivan Juric left him out of all matchday squads until finally restoring him to first-team training this week.
Not all supporters have welcomed the decision. A banner displayed in Bergamo bluntly read:
“No. 11 reintegrated but for us, you remain ungrateful.”
Atalanta president Antonio Percassi has tried to calm the tension, confirming Lookman’s reintegration but warning that commitment must come first.
“We know his technical ability, but to play here you have to be 100% focused. When he’s ready, we’ll welcome him back with open arms,” Percassi told reporters.
Lookman’s future remains under scrutiny. Despite the club standoff, he has stayed sharp on international duty with Nigeria during World Cup qualifiers.
Atalanta, meanwhile, are juggling Serie A ambitions with European competition, and Juric could yet rely on the winger’s explosive pace and creativity in attack.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
