Atalanta will determine in the coming days whether Nigeria international Ademola Lookman is ready to make his first appearance of the season when the club faces Lecce on Sunday, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Lookman has yet to feature for Atalanta this season after being sidelined following a fallout with the club over his failed summer transfer to Inter Milan. The winger is set to return to Bergamo after participating in Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa, where he played 75 and 90 minutes respectively despite being inactive at club level since May.
While Lookman appeared physically fit during international duty, his lack of match sharpness was noticeable, as he missed several scoring opportunities he would normally be expected to convert. His recent weeks have been turbulent, involving strikes, individual training, and long-distance communications with Atalanta, which had previously led to disciplinary measures.
Upon his return to Zingonia, Lookman will be assessed by coach Ivan Jurić and his staff. No further sanctions are expected, with the focus shifting entirely to his technical and physical condition following a demanding 16-hour journey from Africa.
Friday’s training session will provide the first indication of whether Lookman can rejoin team preparations immediately and if he will be considered for selection against Lecce.
