Atalanta’s 1-0 Champions League victory over Marseille on Wednesday night was overshadowed by a heated moment between Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman and his manager, Ivan Juric.
The incident occurred shortly after Lookman was substituted in the second half. The 28-year-old winger appeared visibly frustrated as he walked off the pitch, and his reaction seemingly provoked an angry response from Juric.
What began as a verbal exchange quickly escalated into a brief physical altercation before club officials intervened.
Eyewitnesses at the Gewiss Stadium reported that Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi and team captain Marten de Roon intervened immediately to calm both parties.
Lookman appeared startled by the manager’s aggressive reaction, while Juric was visibly fuming on the sidelines.
A source close to the team told Gazzetta dello Sport that the pair exchanged words again after the final whistle.
However, it remains uncertain whether the post-match conversation was an attempt at reconciliation or a continuation of their disagreement.
Despite the off-field drama, Atalanta secured all three points with a narrow 1-0 win over the French side, maintaining their strong start in the competition.
When asked about the incident, a club insider told reporters, “Tensions often run high in football, especially on big European nights. What matters now is that both men move past it for the good of the team.”
Lookman, who has been one of Atalanta’s key attacking threats this season, has yet to publicly comment on the altercation.
However, fans have taken to social media, expressing mixed reactions; some defend the player’s passion, while others criticise the lack of discipline on display.
With Atalanta set to face a crucial Serie A fixture this weekend, all eyes will be on whether Juric and Lookman can put the incident behind them and maintain the team’s winning momentum.
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