How playing for Atalanta has changed Ademola Lookman’s career from a ‘failure’ to Africa’s best player
It’s still quite rare for British footballers to make a move across the English Channel and play for a club outside of the United Kingdom. However, over the last few years, we’ve seen more players shining on the football pitch abroad. Former Manchester United player Scott McTominay has been a revelation for Napoli this season and previously we’ve also seen Tammy Abraham and Chris Smalling adapt well to Italian football. Ademola Lookman is another prime example of someone who turned his career around when moving away from the Premier League. The Atalanta forward, who was born in London but represents the Nigerian national team, previously failed to make a lasting impression at Everton, Fulham, and Leicester City and felt like his career was going down. But in 2024, Lookman was voted the men’s African footballer of the year after scoring a hat-trick in the Europa League final.
‘’Four years ago my career felt down but now I’m here as the best player in Africa,’’ Lookman said when collecting his award for African footballer of the year in a traditional Nigerian robe. Even though Lookman was always considered a bright talent after moving from Charlton Athletic to Everton, he struggled to secure a starting spot wherever he went. When Atalanta Bergamo came calling in 2022, it didn’t take him long to decide to play in Serie A as he has always gone to a place where an opportunity to play finds him.
‘’Life is all about experience,’’ Lookman told the BBC. ‘’Bergamo is very chilled, relaxed, but very historic. When I first signed I had food in a restaurant. It was a nice summer’s night. I sat there, ate and thought ‘yeah, I’m going to do this.’’’ It only took him about a month to settle in Italy to the point where he felt at home after scoring on his debut. Thus far, it’s been Lookman’s most productive spell in professional career.
This season, the 27-year-old has been an important player for his side again, contributing 18 goals in 20 matches in Serie A and the UEFA Champions League. Atalanta is currently second in the league table and is well in the race to win the Scudetto this year.
Gasperini
Living in Italy and playing under Gian Piero Gasperini at Atalanta has been key to his development. ‘’Learning what the Mister wants from me and how he wants me to perform. It’s been cool. He’s very demanding of us as a team and as individuals to play a style of football that he wants and to score goals. He’s made it very simple for me in terms of what he wants me to do on the pitch and I like that.’’
As Atalanta aims to win the first Serie A title in its history, Lookman hopes the success he’s had so far is just the beginning. ‘’It’s been defining in terms of steps taken, but this is just the start of hopefully something very special.’’
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