The Nerazzurri Coach Finalizes 25-Man Squad, Including Four Homegrown Talents
Atalanta`s coach, Gian Piero Gasperini, has finalized the 25-player squad for the Champions League, including four homegrown talents: Rossi, Sportiello, Scalvini, and Bernasconi.
Ademola Lookman is included in Atalanta`s UEFA Champions League squad for the 2025/26 league phase, despite being the subject of a protracted summer transfer saga. The Nigerian forward`s presence confirms his stay in Bergamo. Atalanta`s European campaign kicks off on September 17 against reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain. Subsequent fixtures include home matches against Club Brugge (who eliminated Atalanta in last year`s playoffs) and Slavia Prague, followed by away games against Roberto De Zerbi`s Olympique Marseille and the highly anticipated Eintracht Frankfurt (a fixture between historically twinned fanbases). The team will then host Chelsea and Athletic Bilbao, concluding their group stage matches on January 28 in Brussels against Union St. Gilloise.
Bakker Out
The only notable exclusion from the squad is Mitchel Bakker. The defender would have been unable to participate in the initial phase anyway, having undergone surgery in late July for a torn cruciate ligament, with his return to play not expected before February. All 25 other players have been included, filling all available slots. This includes four homegrown players (club-trained players, CTP): goalkeepers Rossi and Sportiello, defender Scalvini, and left-back Bernasconi, born in 2003, who played for the Under 23 team last season and impressed Gian Piero Gasperini during the summer.
Lookman In
Ademola Lookman has been routinely included in the squad list. After a protracted summer transfer saga, the forward ultimately remained in Bergamo, as the Percassi family did not receive satisfactory offers before the transfer deadline (though the Turkish market remains open, and Galatasaray could still consider a move). The 1997-born player is currently in Nigeria for international duty. He is expected to return to Zingonia next week, where he has only completed individual training sessions since his initial return after an unannounced absence. Consequently, he has not trained with the full squad for approximately a month and a half.
Atalanta`s Champions League 2025/26 Squad List:
- Goalkeepers: Carnesecchi, Rossi, Sportiello
- Defenders: Ahanor, Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac, Kossounou, Scalvini
- Wing-backs/Wide Players: Bellanova, Bernasconi, Zalewski, Zappacosta
- Midfielders: Brescianini, De Roon, Ederson, Musah, Pasalic, Samardzic
- Forwards: De Ketelaere, Kamaldeen, Krstovic, Lookman, Maldini, Scamacca
