Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has been at the helm of the Italian club during a transformative period for Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman. Despite Lookman's meteoric rise to stardom, Gasperini has humbly refused to take credit for the player's success, attributing it instead to the collective efforts of the club and Lookman's own dedication.
Lookman joined Atalanta in 2022 from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig after struggling to make a major impact at Premier League clubs such as Everton, Fulham, and Leicester City. His move to Italy marked a turning point in his career, as he quickly adapted to the Serie A environment and began to flourish under Gasperini's guidance.
The 27-year-old winger has since become one of the most formidable forwards in world football, earning accolades and recognition on both domestic and international stages.
Gasperini, who signed Lookman from Leipzig, has been instrumental in nurturing the player's talents. However, he insists that the credit for Lookman's development should be shared among the entire Atalanta organization.
"For many years, the objective for Atalanta was to improve players and see them go to greater heights," Gasperini stated. "It's not my credit; it goes to everyone at Atalanta who help the players to grow, and of course, the credit goes to the players themselves. They have what it takes; we just help them to bring that out."
Under Gasperini's tutelage, Lookman has achieved remarkable feats. He played a pivotal role in Atalanta's historic Europa League victory last season, where his performances were highlighted by a stunning hat-trick that ended Bayer Leverkusen's 51-game unbeaten streak. This achievement not only solidified his status as a key player for Atalanta but also earned him a place among the top footballers globally, as evidenced by his 14th-place finish in the Ballon d'Or rankings.
In the current Serie A season, Lookman has continued to impress with his exceptional goal-scoring ability and playmaking skills. He leads the league in goal involvements, having scored 17 goals and provided 11 assists, including a memorable brace against Napoli that ended their unbeaten run. Such performances have made him a strong contender for the African Player of the Year award, a title he recently clinched, further cementing his status as Africa's best player.
Lookman himself has been vocal about the positive impact Atalanta has had on his career. He credits the club's supportive environment and the timing of his move as crucial factors in his development.
"I think the environment that the club (Atalanta) gave me has been very key to obviously my growth as a player," Lookman expressed. "And also, just timing, you know, I've always believed in myself and to be able to achieve great things. But, yeah, the time has come and, you know, just blessed to be here."
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