Atalanta coach Ivan Juric has left Ademola Lookman out of his squad for their 2025/26 UEFA Champions League group phase opening game against reigning champions PSG on Wednesday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Lookman is one of five Atalanta players who were not involved in training on Tuesday ahead of the Champions League test at the Parc des Princes.
As per reports from TMW, Juric will leave Lookman out again for the PSG clash on Wednesday night.
Having been dropped from their first three Serie A games of the season, it’s the fourth time Lookman is absent fromJuric’s plans after his failed attempt to leave the club over the summer.
The Nigeria international has not played for Atalanta at all since the end of the 2024/25 season.
He was presumed to return to the squad after an impressive international break with Nigeria last week, but coach Juric declared he would not beg the player to play.
Club director Luca Percassi also backed the coach’s claim on Sunday, citing that the club will need Lookman to give 100 per cent before considering his return.
“I don’t have much to add to what the coach already said. Obviously, we are in total agreement with his comments,” Percassi told DAZN Italia.
“We know how important Lookman is for Atalanta, but the club has some very basic principles, which need players who are ready to give 100 per cent for this jersey and totally concentrated on our cause, because every game is difficult.”
Meanwhile, Atalanta are also without key players in Ederson and Gianluca Scamacca, as well as defenders Sead Kolasinac and Mitchel Bakker, all through injury. They are all expected to be unavailable for the PSG match as well.
Atalanta got their first victory of the new season on Sunday, beating Lecce 4-1 after a pair of disappointing stalemates against Pisa and Parma.
During the summer transfer window, the club made it clear that the 28-year-old would only leave for a permanent transfer and at a fee of €50m, but Inter’s bid fell short.
Remaining at Atalanta, at least until January remains Lookman’s only option.
He was linked to Turkish Super Lig giants, Fenerbahce and Galatasaray, but the transfer window in that part of Europe also closed on September 12.
Punch
