Atalanta ‘waiting with open arms’ when Lookman is ready to return | OneFootball

Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi assures they are ‘waiting with open arms’ for Ademola Lookman when he is ‘ready,’ while Ivan Juric explains his Champions League changes against PSG.

It kicks off at Parc des Princes at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Ajax vs. Inter on the Liveblog.

La Dea are becoming regulars in the Champions League and won the Europa League trophy in 2024, so should no longer feel over-awed by the likes of Paris Saint-Germain.

“It’s wonderfully emotional, knowing it will be a very difficult match, but it makes us very proud to be here against the reigning Champions of Europe,” Percassi told Sky Sport Italia.

Atalanta still dealing with Lookman saga

Luca Percassi Vice Chairman of Atalanta (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)

The season has so far been overshadowed by the Lookman saga, as he tried and failed to force through a transfer to Inter, going AWOL from training for two weeks.

When he returned, it was not with the right attitude to be allowed on the field, so considering the way things went, do Atalanta regret not just selling him even for less than he was worth?

“You cannot go back and change the past, so we will focus on the present and future. We all know how good Ademola is, but also that in order to play for Atalanta, you must be 100 per cent focused. When he feels ready to do that, we are waiting for him with open arms,” assured Percassi.

Lookman is not the only absentee for Atalanta, because Gianluca Scamacca, Ederson, Sead Kolasinac and Mitchel Bakker are all injured and did not make the trip to Paris.

BERGAMO, ITALY – AUGUST 24: Ivan Juric, Head Coach of Atalanta BC looks on during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Pisa SC at Gewiss Stadium on August 24, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)

Coach Juric has made some surprise calls this evening, starting 21-year-old Lorenzo Bernasconi on the left flank, with Daniel Maldini, Mario Pasalic and False 9 Charles De Ketelaere upfront.

“Bernasconi is working really well and I wanted to give him an opportunity,” Juric told Sky Sport Italia.

“Maldini has everything it takes to do well, but he needs to shake off the pressure and enjoy himself more on the field.”