Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has been named in Atalanta’s squad for this season’s UEFA Champions League despite being kept away from the first team after a failed summer transfer exit, Afrosport reports.
Inter Milan were close to signing Lookman but Atalanta were not keen on selling him to a rival while he also had interest from Bayern Munich and clubs in Turkey.
The reigning African Player of the Year ultimately went on strike, removing every mention of Atalanta on his social media accounts, and has not been included in any Serie A matchday squad this season.
The Bergamo outfit have nevertheless included him for their Champions League campaign as they take on Paris Saint-Germain, Club Brugge, Slavia Prague, Eintracht Frankfurt, Chelsea, Athletic Bilbao and Union Saint-Gilloise in the league phase of the competition.
It is yet to be seen if Lookman’s inclusion will see him participate in the elite European competition and whether he will still move away from the club, with the transfer market in Saudi Arabia and Turkey still open until September 10 and 12 respectively.
Injured Dutch left wing-back Mitchel Bakker from the squad list while there is a place for American midfielder of Ghanaian heritage, Yunus Musah, who joined on loan from AC Milan.
Atalanta Champions League squad list
Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi, Francesco Rossi, Marco Sportiello
Defenders: Honest Ahanor, Raoul Bellanova, Berat Djimsiti, Isak Hien, Sead Kolasinac, Odilon Kossounou, Giorgio Scalvini, Davide Zappacosta
Midfielders: Lorenzo Bernasconi, Marco Brescianini, Marten de Roon, Ederson, Yunus Musah, Mario Pasalic, Lazar Samardzic, Nicola Zalewski
Forwards: Charles De Ketelaere, Nikola Krstovic, Ademola Lookman, Daniel Maldini, Gianluca Scamacca, Kamaldeen Sulemana
