AfriPulse
September 14, (THEWILL) — Ademola Lookman will miss Atalanta’s UEFA Champions League opening fixture against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, with coach Ivan Juric confirming the Nigeria international remains sidelined following his unsuccessful summer transfer bid.
The 27-year-old forward has not appeared for the Serie A side this season after attempting to force a move to Inter Milan during the transfer window.
Juric addressed the situation following Atalanta’s 4-1 victory over Lecce, stating the circumstances surrounding Lookman were “unpleasant” and emphasising his need for players committed to the club.
The coach noted that while Lookman had contributed significantly to Atalanta, the club had equally supported his development since his arrival three years ago.
This marks the second consecutive summer that Lookman has sought an exit from the Bergamo-based club, having previously attempted to join PSG after helping Atalanta claim the Europa League title in 2024.
The London-born striker abandoned team training in hopes Inter would meet Atalanta’s €50 million valuation, though the transfer never materialised.
Lookman’s impressive record includes 52 goals in 117 appearances for Atalanta, with his hat-trick performance in the 2023/2024 UEFA Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen serving as a career highlight.
The forward contributed 20 goals across all competitions last term, including five strikes in seven UEFA Champions League matches, before souring relations with the club hierarchy.
Atalanta has maintained an unbeaten start to the current campaign without their star player, winning all three opening fixtures to sit sixth in Serie A.
The club appears to have adapted well under Juric’s leadership, with Charles De Ketelaere scoring twice against Lecce alongside goals from Giorgio Scalvini and Nicola Zalewski.
Author Profile
Jude Obafemi, THEWILL
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
Source: TheWillNigeria | Read the Full Story…
