Ademola Lookman credits Gian Piero Gasperini for Life-changing opportunity at Atalanta

By Monsurah Olatunji

Nigeria international Ademola Lookman has credited Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini for the pivotal role he played in the growth of his career.

Lookman joined Atalanta in 2022, the same year he made the decision to represent Nigeria, and his career has since flourished. The 27-year-old winger has become one of the standout players in Serie A, with eight goals and four assists in just 12 league appearances this season.

His performances have been instrumental in Atalanta’s charge towards their first-ever Scudetto, as they sit atop the league, two points ahead of second-placed Napoli.

The winger has also impressed on the European stage, contributing two goals and one assist in the Champions League. He will be looking to continue his strong form as Atalanta prepare for a crucial match against Real Madrid, hoping to secure automatic qualification for the Champions League round of 16.

Reflecting on his growth under Gasperini, Lookman explained that the coach’s clear communication and focus on his strengths have been key to his development.

“I think that from the first moment I arrived, the coach always told me what he wanted from me, he spoke to me clearly, he told me to focus on my qualities and make them available to the team,” Lookman said, as quoted by Tutto Atalanta.

Lookman went on to acknowledge the impact that Bergamo, the city where Atalanta is based, has had on his focus and development.

“In the last two years, I have tried to improve my game; the city of Bergamo has given me a lot; it helps me to focus on what I have to do,” he added.

Under Gasperini’s guidance, Lookman believes the team has grown significantly both physically and mentally.

“We have shown a lot; we have grown as a team. I think that each of us has grown a lot, at a different level, both in the legs and in the mind,” he continued.

“As a team, everyone works for their teammate; in the Europa League final, it was clearly seen, the level we showed. But this is a different season.”

With his impressive performances attracting the attention of top European clubs, Lookman remains focused on helping Atalanta achieve historic success this season.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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