Key Discussions with Coach Juric and Teammates Precede On-Field Return; Possible Call-Up for Torino-Atalanta
After a two-month hiatus, precisely 64 days, Ademola Lookman has rejoined Atalanta for team training. This marks a significant positive development following a summer fraught with disputes, tensions, misunderstandings, and ruptures. What began as a near-breakdown evolved through a series of rigid stances and diplomatic efforts, culminating in the only sensible resolution: Lookman is now reintegrated as a fully active player for Atalanta. Discussions regarding his long-term future are postponed for now. For the immediate future, potentially as early as Sunday, Coach Juric welcomes back a player whose absence was keenly felt, despite the previous internal discord. While Atalanta would have preferred to avoid such issues, the situation has now been resolved.
Sunday`s Turning Point
The initial breakthrough occurred last Sunday, in the aftermath of the match against Lecce, when Lookman`s agents re-established communication with the club. The central question was how to move forward. Consistent with prior discussions involving CEO Luca Percassi and Sporting Director Tony D’Amico, the player`s representatives were reminded of the club`s sole requirement: Ademola needed to regain the composure and motivation he claimed had been absent. The goal was a Lookman fully committed to Atalanta. A simple gesture from the player, acknowledging the club`s consistent willingness to reconcile, would have sufficed. Lookman made this conciliatory move yesterday morning, a development that had been anticipated, especially in light of Luca Percassi`s earlier statement on Wednesday evening: “We are waiting for him with open arms.”
The Dual Confrontation
The Nigerian forward arrived at Zingonia for breakfast as scheduled and promptly requested a meeting with Coach Juric. He conveyed his readiness to turn over a new leaf, both physically and mentally, and to deliver his utmost performance. Before approving his return to full training, Juric asked Lookman to address the squad. Lookman complied, speaking for nearly ten minutes in the locker room, explaining that he had rediscovered the necessary drive after a challenging summer. By 11:45 AM, he was back on the pitch, no longer training in isolation as he had been for much of the summer. Witnesses even claimed to have seen him smile, a stark contrast to months of solemn expressions and a withdrawn demeanor.
Contractual Considerations
As circumstances rarely arise in a vacuum, it`s reasonable to anticipate that yesterday`s developments will soon pave the way for renewed discussions, not solely concerning a potential transfer, but also his existing contract. Whether this entails a simple wage adjustment (with Inter`s reported offer of 4.5 million euros annually serving as a benchmark) or a full extension will become clear in due course, potentially quite soon. Given his good physical condition, Lookman is already considered available for selection on Saturday, with Coach Juric assessing his potential involvement in Sunday`s match against Torino. A substitute appearance is not ruled out, serving as a prelude to a possible starting role on Saturday, September 27th, against Juventus. These two away fixtures are also strategically ideal for “preparing” his return in front of the home fans, whose full support he will need to regain.
The Rediscovered Attacking Option
Even before Wednesday, Atalanta supporters were acutely aware of what became evident during the PSG match: Lookman – at least for now, and potentially in the future – lacks a direct like-for-like replacement within the squad. There is no alternative player who can consistently offer his level of performance (at his best, at least), his unique rhythm of play, unpredictability, goal-scoring awareness, and natural instinct. It`s important to clarify that even the Nigerian forward might not have drastically altered the outcome of the Paris game. However, in a team that primarily struggled with dynamism and execution speed – consequently appearing surprised and tactically imbalanced, especially during their breathless opening fifteen minutes – his absence was even more pronounced. The team sorely missed an attacker capable of elevating the intensity of the challenge, at least in terms of energy. Beyond his significant goal-scoring ability, Lookman possesses a distinct speed. Crucially, he has an exceptional change of pace – the very “kryptonite” PSG used to dismantle Atalanta for three of their four goals (the fourth being a concession from Bellanova). Until now, Coach Juric has struggled to find another player in the squad to effectively operate in that specific area of the field; with Lookman`s return, that challenge may now be somewhat eased.
Injury Report
The concerns were well-founded: while Lookman returns, it is likely, though not yet confirmed, that Juric will be without both Scalvini and De Ketelaere for Sunday`s match in Torino. Both players exited the pitch in Paris due to adductor muscle strains. The results of their clinical assessments are expected to be released today, but the prevailing impression from yesterday evening and this morning is clear: there is a risk they may not recover in time, even if the muscle issues are considered minor. Should this prognosis be confirmed, their recovery timelines for the highly crucial matches against Juventus (on Saturday, September 27th) and then Club Brugge in the Champions League will need to be carefully assessed.
