Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has confirmed that Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman will be sidelined for approximately three weeks due to an injury sustained in a previous match.
The Nigerian winger sustained a left knee injury during Monday’s training session, just days before Atalanta’s highly anticipated UEFA Champions League clash against Spanish giants Barcelona at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Wednesday.
While acknowledging that Lookman had been carrying the issue since the game against Napoli, Gasperini remains hopeful for a quicker recovery.
Gasperini provides injury update on Lookman
Ahead of La Dea's game against Barcelona, Gasperini provided an update on Ademola Lookman’s injury, confirming that the Nigerian winger is expected to be sidelined for approximately three weeks.
“It was more or less what was expected, he had been carrying this problem over from the match against Napoli. He played on it and the feeling is that everything could have gone well, but yesterday he was having discomfort and the tests gave a prognosis of three weeks. Let’s hope it’s less long,” the Italian manager said as reported by Tutto Atalanta.
Lookman is expected to miss several key fixtures for Atalanta. In February, the club will take on Torino, Verona, Cagliari, and Empoli in Serie A, along with a crucial Coppa Italia quarter-final showdown against Bologna.
Additionally, his availability for the upcoming UEFA Champions League playoffs remains uncertain, further complicating Atalanta’s plans. In the current campaign, Lookman has netted 14 goals and registered six assists in 26 appearances for the Bergamo outfit.
Lookman’s injury could also impact the Super Eagles’ bid for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Nigeria are scheduled to face Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March, and with their precarious position in the qualifiers, securing maximum points will be crucial.
