OGUN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Atalanta’s dramatic Champions League victory over Marseille was marred by controversy on Wednesday night after Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman was involved in a heated confrontation with head coach Ivan Jurić.
The Super Eagles star, who endured a frustrating evening that included a disallowed goal, was substituted in the 74th minute. As he left the pitch, television cameras appeared to capture Jurić pulling and shoving Lookman, prompting other Atalanta staff to step in and separate the pair.
While Atalanta went on to claim a stoppage-time winner their second victory in four group-stage matches, the incident overshadowed the result and quickly sparked outrage online.
Lookman had started brightly, showing flashes of his attacking quality, but struggled to find space against a compact Marseille defence. His well-taken goal early in the second half was ruled out for offside, and frustration appeared to build as the match progressed.
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Upon being substituted for Yunus Musah, Lookman exchanged heated words with Jurić before the confrontation escalated into a brief physical altercation.
Reactions From Fans
The footage circulated widely on social media, drawing anger from fans particularly in Nigeria with many urging Lookman to leave the Serie A club. Some accused Jurić of mistreating the forward, reviving memories of Lookman’s reported disagreements with former Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini, who once criticised his penalty-taking.
“Pure racism. He should leave the club ASAP,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Another commented, “If he’s still there after January, he’s not serious.”
The 27-year-old winger had reportedly explored transfer options during the summer window, and the latest incident has reignited speculation about his long-term future in Bergamo.
Neither Atalanta nor Jurić have issued an official statement regarding the confrontation as of at the time of filing this report