A heated touchline confrontation erupted between Ademola Lookman and Atalanta manager Ivan Juric during Wednesday night's Champions League fixture against Marseille, requiring intervention from coaching staff and players to prevent escalation.
The Nigerian international, who claimed African Footballer of the Year honours, was removed from the match in the 75th minute when tensions boiled over.
After exchanging words with the Croatian coach upon leaving the pitch, Juric physically seized Lookman's arm whilst berating him.
Club CEO Luca Percassi and teammate Marten de Roon stepped in to defuse the situation, restraining the visibly shocked 28-year-old winger as coaching staff formed a barrier between the pair.
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The incident unfolded with the match deadlocked at 0-0, as Lookman made way for Yunus Musah.
Atalanta subsequently secured victory through Lazar Samardzic's 89th-minute strike, ten minutes after the Croatian tactician had introduced him for Charles De Ketelaere.
Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Juric approached Lookman following the final whistle for another exchange, though the nature of their discussion remains unclear.
The altercation marks another chapter in Lookman's troubled relationship with Atalanta management, despite his impressive scoring record of 40 goals across 99 appearances and his memorable hat-trick in their Europa League final triumph.
A heated touchline confrontation erupted between Ademola Lookman and Atalanta manager Ivan Juric
|TNT
The former Everton player's relationship with Atalanta has been fraught with controversy.
Previous manager Gian Piero Gasperini publicly criticised him as "one of the worst penalty takers I've ever seen" following a Champions League defeat to Club Brugge in February.
Lookman responded on social media, stating: "Being singled out in the manner I have been not only hurts but feels deeply disrespectful."
During the summer transfer window, the winger attempted to force an exit after Inter Milan submitted a £32million offer.
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Intervention from coaching staff and players was needed to prevent escalation
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He accused the club of "broken promises" and "poor treatment towards me as both a human being and as a professional footballer."
Former Premier League striker Troy Deeney told CBS: "When you physically put your hands on somebody, at that point me and you are not going to have a conversation again. There's nothing you can say today, tomorrow, next week, that makes me forget you did that to me in front of everyone."
Fellow pundit Nigel Reo-Coker echoed these sentiments, emphasising the breach of professional standards.
The former West Ham midfielder added: "You, as a manager, cannot do that, no matter what has been said."
"Once you put your hand on a player physically, you have lost."
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