Genoa head coach Daniele De Rossi believes Atalanta will feel the absence of Nigerian winger Ademola Lookman when both sides clash in Serie A this weekend and throughout the Africa Cup of Nations.
Genoa host Atalanta on Sunday in a Matchday 16 encounter, with the visitors set to line up without Lookman, who has left club duty to represent Nigeria at the AFCON tournament in Morocco.
Speaking ahead of the fixture, De Rossi described Lookman as a decisive attacking presence whose impact goes beyond statistics, stressing that his availability often changes the balance of games.
“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 said, according to FCInter19008.
The former Roma and Italy midfielder acknowledged Atalanta’s squad depth but insisted the winger’s absence would still be significant. “We’ve also seen how dangerous the other players on the bench are, but having him or not certainly changes things,” he added.
Atalanta head into the weekend in 12th place on the Serie A table with 19 points, a position that falls below pre-season expectations for a side that has regularly competed for European qualification in recent seasons.
Genoa, meanwhile, sit 16th with 14 points and remains uncomfortably close to the relegation zone, making Sunday’s clash crucial for both teams as they seek momentum heading into the second half of the campaign.
Although Lookman has yet to reach his best form this season, his pace and threat from the left flank remain constant. The 28-year-old has scored two goals in 11 Serie A appearances and has continued to earn starts under head coach Raffaele Palladino, underlining why his absence is being keenly felt.
