Atalanta director Luca Percassi has said Ademola Lookman must be ready to give 100 per cent to the club, before he is integrated into the squad, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Percassi reiterated the club’s position to freeze out Lookman after Ivan Juric’s latest comments on the player.
Lookman has not been listed for any of their three Serie A games this season.
He was presumed to return to the squad after an impressive international break with Nigeria last week, but coach Juric declared he would not beg the player to participate, suggesting an attitude problem.
I don’t have much to add to what the coach already said. Obviously, we are in total agreement with his comments,” Percassi told DAZN Italia.
“We know how important Lookman is for Atalanta, but the club has some very basic principles, which need players who are ready to give 100 per cent for this jersey and totally concentrated on our cause, because every game is difficult.
“So, the decision was made not to call up Ademola due to his situation, and we are focused on this tough game.
The history of this club is a battling spirit, and the coach fully embodies that idea, which is why we chose him. This is what the fans expect too, regardless of the quality of the individual players. We know every match is difficult, but our fans have always cheered us on, and we’ve got to inspire them.”
Atalanta got their first victory of the new season on Sunday, beating Lecce 4-1 after a pair of disappointing stalemates against Pisa and Parma.
Their summer was dominated by the saga around Lookman, who went on strike after a failed transfer to Inter Milan.
During the summer transfer window, the club made it clear that Lookman would only leave for a permanent transfer and at a fee of €50m, but Inter’s bid fell short.
Remaining at Atalanta, at least until January remains Lookman’s only option.
He was linked to Turkish Super Lig giants, Fenerbahce and Galatasaray, but the transfer window in that part of Europe also closed on September 12.
