The Nigerian football community has expressed strong displeasure over alleged unprofessional treatment of Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman by Atalanta’s head coach.
A public letter circulating among Nigerian supporters by Oku_Yungx on X on Thursday criticised the coach for allegedly handling the player in a physical and disrespectful manner during a recent match interaction.
In the letter titled “This is a Letter to Your Coach”, the group, identified as Okun football supporters, accused the coach of resorting to physical aggression instead of communication. The statement warned that such behaviour was unacceptable and would not be tolerated.
“Your recent conduct towards Ademola Lookman, a proud Nigerian international and one of Atalanta’s finest players, was both unprofessional and unacceptable,” the letter read.
“Physical harassment has no place in modern football. If you must address him, do so with your words, not your hands.”
The supporters emphasised that Lookman is not only a key player for the Italian Serie A side but also a national figure admired by millions in Nigeria.
“Every player deserves dignity and respect, regardless of nationality. Ademola Lookman represents not just Atalanta, but millions of Nigerians who support him passionately,” the letter added.
The group issued a stern warning, stating that they would continue monitoring the situation closely to ensure that no similar incident occurs again.
Atalanta’s head coach, Ivan Juric, reacting to Lookman’s alleged treatment, said:
It’s the usual thing we’ve been commenting on every Sunday. It happened with De Bruyne at Napoli—some players are not happy to be substituted, they don’t react well, and we sort these things out in the locker room,” he told journalists.
“We all know these situations; we’ve all had them as players and as coaches – they happen in the heat of the moment. What matters is Atalanta, the club, the team, and the fans. We do what is good for the team, and I think you need to give your all. I understand, I shake it all off, and we move forward,” he added.
Lookman, who has been in impressive form this season, has continued to maintain focus on club and international duties.
The situation has sparked debates across social media, with fans calling for respect towards African players within European football.
On Wednesday, Atalanta defeated Marseille during their Champions League clash.
