Lookman Ruled Out of Atalanta’s Champions League Opener at PSG

Lookman Ruled Out of Atalanta’s Champions League Opener at PSG

Atalanta coach Ivan Juric has confirmed that Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman will miss the club’s Champions League opener against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.

Lookman, who played a pivotal role in Atalanta’s Europa League triumph in 2024, has yet to feature this season after a failed attempt to force a move away from Bergamo during the summer transfer window.

The 26-year-old was strongly linked with a switch to Inter Milan but the transfer did not materialize, leaving his future in limbo.

Juric, speaking after Atalanta’s 4-1 Serie A victory over Lecce on Sunday, described the situation as “unpleasant” and said the forward would not be part of the traveling squad to Paris.

“I don’t think so, it’s an unpleasant situation,” the coach said when asked about Lookman’s availability for the clash against the reigning European champions.

This marks the second consecutive summer in which Lookman has sought to leave Atalanta. In 2024, shortly after his heroics in the Europa League final, he reportedly tried to engineer a move to PSG, but negotiations fell through.

Lookman’s absence is a significant blow for Atalanta, who face a daunting task against PSG in their opening Group Stage fixture.

The Nigerian international was one of the club’s standout performers last season, contributing crucial goals both domestically and in Europe.

With uncertainty still surrounding his long-term future, Atalanta fans will hope the forward can put transfer distractions behind him and return to the squad in the coming weeks as they juggle Serie A and Champions League commitments.