Official: Atalanta leave Lookman out for first Serie A match of 2025-26 | OneFootball

Atalanta have announced their matchday squad of 23 players for their opening match of the 2025-26 Serie A season against newly-promoted Pisa on Sunday evening, confirming the decision to omit Ademola Lookman after his failed attempt to leave the club this summer.

Lookman ot of Atalanta squad for Pisa

Lookman saw a €45m transfer bid from Inter rejected by Atalanta earlier this summer, which led to the Nigeria international submitting a formal transfer request and a statement accusing the club of breaking promises and treating him poorly as a professional and as a human being.

CEO Luca Percassi later confirmed that there was an agreement in place to let Lookman leave this summer, but only if an appropriate offer were to come in from a ‘top’ club outside of Serie A.

EMPOLI, ITALY – FEBRUARY 23: Ademola Lookman of Atalanta BC reacts during the Serie A match between Empoli and Atalanta at Stadio Carlo Castellani on February 23, 2025 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Lookman then decided to take a two-week unauthorised absence to return to the UK while waiting for a move to Inter to materialise, however, the Nerazzurri later pulled out of the deal and have instead decided to sign midfielder Andy Diouf in a change of transfer strategy instead.

Lookman is now training individually at Atalanta, and has not been included in the matchday squad for Sunday’s clash against Atalanta.

There is, however, space in the Atalanta squad for new signings Nikola Krstovic, Kamaldeen Sulemana and 17-year-old Honest Ahanor.

Nikola Krstovic and Atalanta director Luca Percassi (@atalanta_bc)

There is also room in the squad for Italy internationals Giorgio Scalvini and Gianluca Scamacca after their injury-ridden 2024-25 campaigns.

Kick-off between Atalanta and Pisa is set for 19.45 BST.

Confirmed Atalanta squad for Pisa

ROME, ITALY – NOVEMBER 10: AS Roma head coach Ivan Juric looks on during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Bologna at Stadio Olimpico on November 10, 2024 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Goalkeepers: Carnesecchi, Sportiello, Rossi.

Defenders: Ahanor, Bellanova, Bernasconi, Bonfanti, Djimsiti, Hien, Kossounou, Scalvini, Zappacosta.

Midfielders: Brescianini, De Roon, Ederson, Pasalic, Samardzic, Zalewski.

Forwards: De Ketelaere, K.Sulemana, Krstovic, Maldini, Scamacca.