Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has found himself embroiled in a tumultuous situation at Atalanta, characterized by on-field struggles and escalating tensions with manager Ivan Jurić. Despite his return to action following a social media cleanout that hinted at deep-seated unrest, Lookman's presence could not inspire the Bergamo outfit, as they succumbed to a heavy 3-0 defeat against Sassuolo on Sunday. This loss further compounded Atalanta's difficulties in Serie A, leaving them in a disappointing 13th position with just 13 points after a series of poor results, including defeats to Udinese and Sassuolo, and consecutive draws against AC Milan and Cremonese.

The friction between Lookman and Jurić has been palpable, stemming notably from a touchline spat during Atalanta’s Europa League victory over Marseille. This incident exacerbated Lookman's frustration, which originated when the club reportedly blocked several transfer offers for him during the summer, including concrete interest from Inter Milan. His profound discontent was visibly expressed through drastic actions on social media, where he notably unfollowed Atalanta across all platforms. These actions have intensified speculation that the Nigerian international may seek to force an exit in the January transfer window, as his relationship with the club’s management remains strained.

Lookman’s performance against Sassuolo, where he started and played for 78 minutes before being substituted for Kamaldeen Sulemana, mirrored his challenging period. He managed only one shot throughout the match, struggling to make any significant impact. His body language during the game further hinted at lingering frustration, strongly suggesting that his mind might already be set on a move away from Bergamo. This current spell of indifferent form is not an isolated event; Lookman had also previously had a fallout with former coach Gian Piero Gasperini last season and had attempted to leave the club in the summer. His decision to opt out of La Dea's pre-season contributed to fitness problems, resulting in him scoring just one goal across all competitions for club and country this season. An earlier, highly publicized incident involved Jurić pulling Lookman by the arm after substituting him in a 1-0 win against Olympique de Marseille, a situation that former Watford striker Troy Deeney publicly stated was the coach's fault.

Atalanta's dismal run of form has significantly intensified the pressure on manager Ivan Jurić. Last season, Atalanta impressively finished third in Serie A, a stark contrast to their current precarious position in the bottom half of the league. Since assuming leadership in July, Jurić has overseen 15 games, securing only four wins and suffering three losses, culminating in a modest win rate of just 27% with Atalanta. His historical win rates at previous clubs—13% at Southampton, 33% at AS Roma, 37% at Torino, and 30% at Hellas Verona—do not indicate a consistent track record of success. Jurić himself acknowledged the critical importance of the Sassuolo game, especially given that Atalanta had failed to win any of their previous six league matches. Conversations are reportedly ongoing within the club regarding potential replacements, with Thiago Motta and Roberto Mancini emerging as leading candidates should the poor results persist. Despite this palpable pressure, Jurić has publicly stated he is “unfazed” by the prospect of being sacked, admitting that both he and the players were “not up to par” against Sassuolo and conceding that the fans’ chants, urging the team to show more fight, were entirely justified.

Away from his club woes, Lookman has been named in Nigeria’s squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup playoff against Gabon, providing a temporary shift in focus to international duty. While a change in management at Atalanta might offer some respite for the winger, the broader narrative suggests that a genuine “last laugh” for Lookman would be to secure a transfer away from Bergamo. His visibly declining performances and notably muted celebrations, even after breaking a goalscoring drought, underscore his deep-seated desire to depart from a club that has consistently blocked his attempts to move on since his historic UEFA Europa League triumph under Gian Piero Gasperini.