Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman has rejoined Atalanta’s first-team training after weeks on the sidelines amid a failed transfer to Inter Milan, Italian media reported Friday.
The 27-year-old had trained separately since August following a fallout with the club during his push to join Inter, even removing Atalanta content from his social media. Inter’s reported €45 million ($53 million) bid was rejected, and the move collapsed before the transfer deadline.
Lookman, who scored 20 goals in all competitions last season, is seen as central to coach Ivan Juric’s plans in Serie A and Europe. La Dea resisted strong interest from Inter throughout the summer, with the episode echoing 2024 when the Nigerian was also sidelined until after the transfer window closed before returning to play a key role in Atalanta’s campaign.
During the international break, Lookman featured prominently for Nigeria, playing 75 minutes against Rwanda and the full 90 against South Africa in World Cup qualifying, easing concerns about his fitness. He is unlikely to feature in Atalanta’s league match against Lecce but could be available for their Champions League opener against Paris Saint-Germain next Wednesday.
While Atalanta have reintegrated the striker, questions linger over his long-term future. According to Tuttosport, Juventus have identified Lookman as their top target to replace Serbia international Dusan Vlahovic, whose contract at the Allianz Stadium expires in 2026 and is not expected to be renewed.
Lookman’s contract with Atalanta runs until June 2027, but speculation suggests he could be on the move as early as January, with Juventus monitoring his situation closely.
