The 2024 African Player of the Year, Ademola Lookman (27), attributes much of his footballing success to his club, Atalanta Bergamo.
The Nigeria international overcame competition fromAshraf Hakimi, Ronwen Williams, Serhou Guirassy et Simon Adingra to be named best African player during the 2024 CAF Awards in Marrakech.
Before that, he secured 14th place in the rankings of Ballon d’Or 2024 after an exceptional season with theAtalantamarked by his hat-trick in the final of theEuropa League facing the Bayer Leverkusen.
When asked about how the transition between Premier Leaguethe Bundesliga and the Serie A shaped his career, Lookman declared to Flashscore : “I think the environment that the club (Atalanta) gave me was very important for my growth as a player. I think the environment that the club (Atalanta) gave me was very important for my growth as a player and also for the timing. But, yes, the time has come and, you know, I’m happy to be here.”.
After having climbed the ranks among the young people of Waterloothe striker signed his first professional contract with Charlton. In 2017, he joined Everton for a four and a half year contract.
However, he faced strong competition for playing time at Goodison Park, which limited his opportunities. As a result, he joined the RB Leipzig on loan.
The German club then loaned him to Fulham then to Leicester Citywhere he scored 8 goals and delivered 8 assists in 42 appearances in all competitions.
The former England youth international has finally signed a four-year contract withAtalanta for an amount of around 15 million euros, thus becoming the third African in the team Gian Piero Gasperinialongside Jeremy has and of Moustapha Cissé.
This transfer proved to be a turning point in his career, allowing him to play a larger role within the national team of Nigeria and to succeed Victor Osimhen as the best footballer on the continent.
Lookman spoke about his time at Fulhamremembering his famous missed penalty during a 1-0 defeat in Premier League on November 7, 2020. He explained how he turned that devastating moment into a source of strength and expressed hope that his award serves as an inspiration to the next generation of footballers.
“Yes, they weren’t very happy with me, but you know, they gave me a lot of love and support, especially coach Scott Parker”he continued.
“He helped me a lot through that time, but like I said on stage, it’s about turning your pain into power. This is what I have managed to do over the last two years and I continue to do it. To young people who aspire to improve and succeed in life: life can knock you down and not give you the best cards0″
Lookman thus becomes the sixth Nigerian to win this prestigious award, after Rasheed Yekini, Emmanuel Amuneke, Live Mother, Victor Ikpeba et Victor Osimhen.
After representing theEngland in U19, U20 and U21, and notably having participated in the victory of the U17 World Cup in 2017, he changed his sporting nationality to Nigeria. He made his debut with the Super Eagles on March 25, 2022, during a qualifying match for the 2022 World Cup against the Ghana.
Lookman played a key role in second place in the Nigeria to the African Cup of Nations in 2022, scoring a double against Cameroon in the round of 16 and scoring the winning goal in the quarter-final againstAngola in Abidjan.
He should be part of the teamAtalanta during the match of Italian Cup against Cesena this Wednesday evening at the Gewiss stadium. Four days later, theAtalanta will welcome Empoli in Serie A. The team of Gasperini is currently at the top of the standings with 37 points in 16 matches, two points ahead of its closest pursuer, Naples.
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