By Kayode John
After four matches without a goal, Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman scored a brace and made two assists in Atalanta’s 6-1 thrashing of Hellas Verona in Serie A on Saturday night.
The Nigeria international set up captain Marten de Roon for the first goal after six minutes at the Gewiss Stadium.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or nominee completed his brace of assists eight minutes later for Charles de Ketelaere.
Lookman then scored the first of his two goals in the 29th minute and five minutes later, de Ketelaere repaid the earlier favour by assisting the 27-year-old for his second of the night and the club’s fifth goal.
With sufficient damage already done to the visitors, coach Gian Gasperini subbed Lookman off in the 56th minute.
The two goals took the Nigeria international to four goals and four assists in six league matches this term.
For his brilliant performance, Lookman was deservedly given the man of the match award.
According to Tuttomercatoweb on Friday, Atalanta’s co-owner Stephen Pagliuca paid an unusual visit to the club’s training ground, to assure the former RB Leipzig winger of support and commitment to a new deal.
Lookman will have only two years left on his current deal by the end of the 2024/2025 campiagn.
The club are prepared to hand him a new deal as he was reportedly courted by French champions Paris Saint-Germain in the summer. Reports in Italy suggested that Atalanta blocked his transfer to PSG because of the short time involved to have to search for a replacement.
On Thursday, the Eagles star was shortlisted for the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award, days after the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) listed him among 30 best footballers nominated for its 2024 awards.
