‘He’s not in the best condition’ — Atalanta boss cautious of Lookman’s return

Atalanta head coach Ivan Juric has confirmed that Ademola Lookman will be available for selection against Torino, but admitted the Nigerian forward is not yet at peak fitness.

Lookman has been sidelined amid transfer drama and is now working to regain full match sharpness.

Lookman has not featured for Atalanta since the end of the 2024–25 campaign after handing in a transfer request, following the club’s decision to reject a €45m bid from Inter Milan.

The forward further complicated matters by training alone in the UK during the summer, distancing himself from the squad. While the move he wanted never materialised, he eventually returned to Bergamo just days before the season began.

Now, four games into the new campaign, Juric hinted that Lookman could finally see minutes due to injuries to Charles De Ketelaere and Gianluca Scamacca. However, the manager was clear about his fitness levels.

“He’s not in the best condition given that he’s been training alone up until now,” Juric told reporters, adding that the winger had still looked sharp in Friday’s training session.

Sunday’s clash against Torino carries extra significance for Juric, who previously managed the Granata from 2021 to 2025.

Reflecting on his time there, the Croatian coach noted how the club had grown stronger since his tenure. “We got the club’s accounts back in order and finished in the top half after a number of difficult years. Now, Toro is a more solid team and has a lot more options than before,” Juric said.

He acknowledged the challenge awaiting Atalanta, stressing that Torino’s pressing game at home could prove tricky.

For Lookman, the fixture could mark a tentative step back into competitive action, though questions remain about how quickly he can rediscover the form that made him one of Atalanta’s most dangerous attackers last season.