Ademola Lookman, the Nigerian winger for Atalanta Bergamo, could miss the highly anticipated clash against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, September 17, at the Parc des Princes, during the opening matchday of the 2025-2026 Champions League. The 27-year-old forward, who has wanted to leave the club for several transfer windows, has not played this season and has once again been left out by coach Ivan Juric, who refuses to reintegrate him while the conflict persists.
Since last season ended, Lookman has been sidelined by the coach. He has already missed the first three Serie A games and, despite a convincing performance with the Nigerian national team during the recent international break, he is not included in the squad for the trip to Paris. Juric bluntly stated that he will not « beg anyone to play, » confirming his strict disciplinary stance towards the player. This exclusion is also supported by the club’s management, which values collective commitment over individual talent.
Atalanta is thus deprived of one of its most promising offensive players in a crucial game against the reigning European champion. Lookman’s situation reflects a delicate standoff: the player has been waiting for a transfer for months, but the club refuses to sell him cheaply, preferring to keep him until the winter transfer window. This absence also affects the Bergamo squad, which faces other notable injury absences, complicating the challenge against PSG.
This tense context between Lookman and Atalanta raises a major question: will the player regain his place on the pitch before the end of the season, or will he have to wait until the next transfer window to revive his career elsewhere? Meanwhile, Atalanta starts its European campaign without one of its key assets, facing a PSG side that remains formidable on the continental stage.