Sport
“Lookman Is Among the Best in Europe and the World” – Gasperini
Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has hailed Ademola Lookman as one of the finest footballers in the world, praising the Nigerian winger’s remarkable growth and consistency since his arrival at the club.
Lookman joined Atalanta from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig in 2022 and has since flourished, becoming a key figure in the Bergamo-based team.
The 27-year-old winger’s impressive performances this season have captured global attention.
With 12 goals and five assists in 19 appearances across all competitions, Lookman has been instrumental in Atalanta’s campaign.
Lookman’s form also earned him significant recognition off the pitch.
In 2024, he was ranked 14th in the prestigious Ballon d’Or awards, placing him among the world’s elite players.
Additionally, he was crowned Africa’s best player.
Gasperini expressed admiration for Lookman’s progress and highlighted his importance to the team.
“Ademola is a top player,” Gasperini said.
“In terms of character, there are players with more consistency, but that’s understandable given the demands of his role.
He always needs to be at his peak physically, but he’s become an extraordinary player.
He’s now among the best in Europe and the world.”
The manager also emphasized how Lookman has elevated his game by improving his consistency, which has allowed him to shine in Atalanta’s competitive system.
“He’s not just talented; he’s crucial for Atalanta,” Gasperini added.
Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey has opened up about a difficult period in his career, revealing that he almost stepped away from football.
Speaking during a recent interview, Bassey shared that he once made a personal promise to himself to quit pursuing football professionally if he failed to secure a spot at a professional club.
“I remember being 15 and going into my final year, and I told myself that if I didn’t get into a professional club, I would quit football. It was that simple,” he said.
“I would just stop pursuing it seriously and only play for fun. Thank God I eventually got a club, because I honestly don’t know where I would be otherwise.”
It has been reported that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) fined Egypt $5,000 following their clash with Zimbabwe for failing to manage post-match media obligations.
It was noted that after the match, the Egyptian players ignored the media. This action was said to be a violation of CAF’s media regulations, which led to the fine being imposed.
Head of the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle, shared that the big-name players on the team are not happy about being benched.
He recalled when he took out Samuel Chukwueze during the match against Tanzania.
“Yes, of course, we’ve in this team a lot of big names. They are competitors; they aren’t happy when they go to the bench,” Chelle said at his post-match interview.”
“My job is to make choices, and we’re playing a 4-4-2 diamond, and at this moment I feel we have to protect the wing.”
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