“He is ready” – Atalanta captain believes young Super Eagles-eligible defender is Serie A quality

The Brazilian-born Italy worldwide is satisfied the Nigerian descent’s growth is at a sophisticated stage

Memeh Caleb Okoli has proven that he’s able to grow to be a key participant for Atalanta in the course of the 2022-2023 season, says membership captain Rafael Toloi.

Raised within the Atalanta youth academy since 2016, Okoli signed his first skilled contract with the Goddess in 2020.

The Italy youth worldwide was spectacular on mortgage at Cremonese final season, serving to the Gray and Reds safe promotion to Serie A.

Atalanta refused to ship the 21-year-old on one other mortgage this summer season, with supervisor Gian Piero Gasperini working the rule over the younger centre-back in preseason.

Okoli was considered one of Atalanta’s few excellent stars in the course of the pleasant defeats to Newcastle (1-0, July 29) and Valencia (2-1, August 6).

The Tremendous Eagles-eligible teenager is in line to make his Serie A debut this weekend when Atalanta make the journey to Sampdoria on Saturday.

And Atalanta captain Rafael Toloi believes the younger defender has proven exceptional skills to advantage a spot within the first group.

“He’s very robust bodily,” Toloi, 31, mentioned in an interview with L’Eco di Bergamo, as per Tutto Atalanta.

“He has grown loads and I discover him prepared and within the matches towards Valencia and Newcastle he has proven that he may be there.”

Okoli has been joined by Tremendous Eagles attacker Ademola Lookman at Atalanta.

Lookman, after a wonderful yr at Leicester Metropolis, joined the Italian Goddess from RB Leipzig on a four-year contract for a reported price of €15 million.