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An ode to Ademola Lookman's manager at Atalanta, Gian Piero Gasperini, who turned from a 5-goal star to one of Europe's better players.
Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman has undergone a remarkable transformation since joining Atalanta, evolving from a player who struggled to find his footing in the Premier League to one of Europe’s most prolific scorers.
This change is largely attributed to the guidance of his manager, Gian Piero Gasperini, who has been hailed as a master tactician for nurturing attacking talents.
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22:41 - 06.11.2024
Stuttgart vs Atalanta: Ruthless Ademola Lookman adds Germans to growing list of victims with key strike
Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has now scored two goals and assisted one in four matches for Atalanta in the Champions League.
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Lookman’s journey in football has been anything but straightforward. After stints at several English clubs, including Everton and Leicester City, where he averaged only five goals per season, he made a €15 million move to Atalanta in the summer of 2022.
His impact was immediate and profound, as he scored an impressive 32 goals in his first two seasons in Serie A, including a historic hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen last May.
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CBS Sports recently paid tribute to Gasperini, dubbing him the "Ivy League for attackers," highlighting his ability to elevate the performances of strikers and attacking midfielders.
“The craziest thing about Gasperini is that he takes players and they all have career seasons,” the CBS pundit noted, emphasising the remarkable influence of the coach and leadership.
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Lookman’s ascent has not gone unnoticed; he was ranked 14th in the recent Ballon d'Or ceremony and is considered a frontrunner for the 2024 African Player of the Year award.
His technical skill and ability to score crucial goals have made him a key player for both Atalanta and the Nigerian national team.
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“Ademola Lookman was a guy who was at Everton, scoring maybe five goals, loaned to Leicester City, and finished with five goals,” he stated. “Now, he is one of the better players in Europe.”
“I could give you 10 strikers and attacking midfielders that he takes and I have said that he is the Ivy League for attackers,” he added.
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“They go to this club (Atalanta) and for whatever reason, they all have career seasons. They go to him, they are 20 goals a season strikers.”
“He has to be seen as one of the best managers in the world. He’s going to go down as the best coach in their (Atalanta) history - one of the best Italian managers of the century.”
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Lookman’s story is a reminder of the resilience and the right coaching, from Gasperini, who fans in the comment section also described as ‘Gas the Genius’ - proving that with the right environment, talent can truly flourish.
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