Atalanta coach Ivan Juric drops Nigeria star Ademola Lookman for Champions League clash against PSG

Atalanta manager Ivan Juric has confirmed Nigeria international Ademola Lookman will not feature in the upcoming UEFA Champions League clash against Paris Saint Germain.

In high-stake clash on Wednesday, the defending champions will play host to the Italian club in France, as both teams will be yearning for maximum points in an attempt to begin the campaign on a flying note.

Ahead of the game, Juric has disclosed the Nigeria international will not be available for the highly competitive clash.

Lookman has not appeared in an Atalanta shirt since the summer crisis. The attacker was keen to leave for a new challenge at Inter Milan, but it didn’t happen.

The Nerazzurri closed the deal for Lookman, while Atalanta decided to completely exclude him from matches.

“It will be a great match for us against Paris Saint-Germain, the strongest team in the world right now,” Juric said after Atalanta’s 4-1 win over Lecce in Serie A on Sunday.

“We have to be perfect, and we hope they’re not at their best. We’re confident we can have our say. It will be a special moment for me too, as it’s my first time as a coach in the Champions League,” he added, according to Football Italia.

Asked if the door was open for Lookman to play against Paris, Juric replied: “I don’t think so. It’s an annoying situation, not really good.”

“He’s given a lot to Atalanta, but the club has given him a lot too. We need players who are ready and want to be here, who care about the club and want to improve. We’ll see what happens in the future” he said.