Ademola Lookman will not feature for Atalanta in their Champions League opener against Paris Saint-Germain, as the Nigerian forward remains on the sidelines following his unsuccessful push to leave the club this summer.
Head coach Ivan Juric confirmed the decision on Sunday, stressing the need for players fully committed to Atalanta’s campaign.
The Serie A side prepared for Wednesday’s high-profile match in Paris with a convincing 4-1 victory over Lecce. However, the win once again came without Lookman, who has yet to make an appearance this season after attempting to force through a move to Inter Milan during the summer transfer window.
This is not the first time the 27-year-old has sought an exit. Last year, following his heroic hat-trick in the Europa League final that delivered Atalanta their first-ever European trophy, Lookman tried to engineer a transfer to PSG. That move also failed to materialize.
When asked if the Nigerian international would be available for the upcoming clash with the reigning French champions, Juric was firm in his response.
“I don’t think so, it’s an unpleasant situation,” the coach admitted. “He has given a lot to Atalanta, but Atalanta has given him a lot as well. We need players who are ready, who want to play for the shirt and improve… Looking ahead, we’ll see what happens.”
Lookman, who was born in London, has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence since joining Atalanta three years ago after underwhelming spells in both England and Germany. He has since scored an impressive 52 goals in 117 appearances for the Bergamo outfit. His crowning moment came last season when his hat-trick secured a 3-0 triumph over previously unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final.
In the 2023/24 campaign, Lookman found the back of the net 20 times across all competitions, five of which came in just seven Champions League outings. Despite his stellar form, his relationship with Atalanta soured after he stopped training with the squad, hoping Inter would meet the €50 million valuation placed on him by the club. That deal never materialized, forcing Lookman to return under strained circumstances.
With his contract running until June 2027, Lookman remains tied to the club, but his future is uncertain. Since Juric succeeded Gian Piero Gasperini as manager, the forward has been frozen out of the squad. Meanwhile, Atalanta have made a promising start to the season without him. They are unbeaten in their opening three fixtures, sitting sixth in Serie A—just one point behind Gasperini’s new side, Roma, who slipped to a surprise 1-0 defeat at home to Torino.
Against Lecce, Charles De Ketelaere stole the spotlight with a second-half brace, while Giorgio Scalvini and Nicola Zalewski also found the net to seal the win.
What You Should Know
Ademola Lookman, a Nigerian forward and Europa League hero for Atalanta, has been sidelined amid transfer disputes.
Despite his stellar record, including 52 goals in 117 appearances, his push to join Inter Milan strained relations with the club. Atalanta continue to thrive without him, raising questions about his long-term future.
