ATALANTA head coach Ivan Juric has confirmed that Ademola Lookman will return to the squad for Sunday’s high-stakes Serie A clash against Torino, ending months of speculation over the Nigerian forward’s future.
News Point Nigeria Sports reports that speaking at his pre-match press conference on Saturday, Juric admitted that Lookman is still not in peak physical shape after training alone for much of the summer, but insisted that he will be part of the travelling squad.
“He’s spoken with me, the team and my staff. He was well received, and from tomorrow, he will begin to be available to us,” Juric revealed.
“He’s not in the best condition, given that he’s been training alone up until now. But he did very well in training yesterday.”
Lookman, who was crowned African Player of the Year last season, has not featured for Atalanta since the conclusion of the 2024/25 campaign. The 27-year-old spent the summer pushing for a big-money move to Inter Milan, handing in a formal transfer request after Atalanta rejected a reported €45 million bid for his services.
His standoff with the club escalated when he took to Instagram to launch a series of accusations against Atalanta’s management before flying back to the UK to continue training on his own.
However, when no transfer materialised and with the new Serie A season fast approaching, Lookman made a dramatic U-turn rejoining the squad just five days before the league kicked off.
Despite his reintegration, some sections of Atalanta’s passionate fanbase have not forgiven him. A bold banner appeared this week in Bergamo reading: “No. 11 reintegrated, but for us, you remain ungrateful.”
The message underlines a deep sense of betrayal felt by certain supporters, who argue that Lookman’s attempted exit disrespected the club that turned him into one of Europe’s most prolific attackers.
Juric’s decision to bring Lookman back could prove crucial, with key forwards Charles De Ketelaere and Gianluca Scamacca battling fitness concerns. Lookman’s return adds firepower to Atalanta’s attack as they prepare for Sunday’s away clash against Torino his former club in what promises to be a spicy reunion.
In his three seasons with La Dea, Lookman has been nothing short of sensational, scoring 52 goals and providing 25 assists in 112 appearances, cementing his status as one of the club’s most reliable finishers.
The big question now is whether Lookman can win back the hearts of Atalanta fans and restore his relationship with the Curva Nord faithful. Sunday’s match may not just be about points — it could be the beginning of his redemption arc in Bergamo.
