Atalanta manager Raffaele Palladino has stated that the club will be losing an important player in Ademola Lookman when the 2025 African Cup of Nations kicks off later this month.

The former African Footballer of the Year is expected to be named in Eric Chelle's final 28-man squad for the Nations Cup.

The 28-year-old is expected to join the Super Eagles camp on Monday, December 15.

Lookman will be out of action for Atalanta for a month should Nigeria progress to the semifinal of the tournament.

La Dea will also lose Ivorian international Odilon Kossounou to the Biennial competition.

Atalanta boss Palladino has expressed disappointment at the prospect of losing two key players.

“We are losing two important players for us [Lookman and Kossounou], strong and decisive, but we are regaining Kolasinac and Scalvini, who are equally important,” he told reporters.

WDN