Atalanta chief executive Luca Percassi says Ademola Lookman must prove his full commitment before returning to the club’s first team.
The Super Eagles forward, 27, remains under contract with Atalanta until 2027. He pushed for a summer move, with Inter Milan believed to be his preferred destination, but the Bergamo club refused to sanction a transfer to another Serie A side.
Lookman reacted by missing training and pre-season matches, before being reinstated after the September international break. He has since been overlooked by head coach Ivan Juric for games against Lecce and Paris Saint-Germain.
“We all know how good Ademola is, but also that in order to play for Atalanta, you must be 100 per cent focused,” Percassi told Sky Sport Italia. “When he feels ready to do that, we are waiting for him with open arms.”
Super Eagles winger Ademola Lookman has resumed training with Atalanta’s first team after holding talks with head coach Ivan Jurić to clarify his situation at the club.
Ademola Lookman. Photo Credit: Getty Images
The Nigerian international had been out of team training since July, when Atalanta rejected Inter Milan’s €45m bid for him. Despite Lookman agreeing personal terms, the Serie A side refused to sanction any deal below their €50 million valuation, effectively blocking the move.
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Since joining from RB Leipzig in 2022, after inconsistent spells in England and Germany, Lookman has flourished in Serie A. He has scored double figures in each of his three seasons, 13 in his first, 11 in his second, and 15 in his third.
The Nigeria international has twice been named Atalanta’s Player of the Season, struck a historic hat-trick in last season’s Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, and became the first Atalanta player to win the CAF African Footballer of the Year award.
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He is expected to make his return to action on Sunday, 21 September, when Atalanta face Torino, as the Bergamo side aim to bounce back from their European setback.
