Atalanta will miss Ademola Lookman — Roma legend De Rossi

Lookman will be at the forefront of Nigeria's quest to lift the AFCON trophy in Morocco, but his absence will be keenly felt at club level, where a resurgent Atalanta are trying to keep their European hopes alive.

La Dea will travel to face Genoa this Sunday for a Serie A clash without their star winger and manager, Raffaele Palladino must find ways to adapt.

Speaking ahead of the match, De Rossi conceded that Lookman's unavailability is a clear advantage for his side, admitting he is the type of player any manager would want in their lineup.

"I confess that if I were to coach Lookman, I’d always want him on the pitch because in Serie A he can make the difference and shift the balance," De Rossi remarked.

While acknowledging the depth of Atalanta's squad, the Genoa boss emphasized the unique threat posed by the Nigerian international.

"We’ve also seen how dangerous the other players on the bench are, but having him or not certainly changes things," he added.

The upcoming fixture is crucial for both teams. Atalanta currently sit in 12th place with 19 points, but are on a run of 5 wins in their last 6 games across all competitions.

Meanwhile, Lookman will hope to lead the Super Eagles to glory in Morocco, starting with their opener against Tanzania, before facing Uganda and Tunisia in the group stage.