‘I’ve Reached New Heights’ – Lookman On His Atalanta Journey

Ademola Lookman believes his standout performances over the past two years with Serie A club Atalanta have elevated his career to new heights.

The 27-year-old, who ranked 14th in the 2024 Ballon d’Or standings, shared with the BBC that his time in Italy has significantly boosted his confidence and self-belief.

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“I have the confidence in my ability to create, to score goals, to help my teammates, to assist them. In the past two years, I believe I have been able to take my game to a new level and show that on a more consistent basis,” Lookman said.

The winger’s standout season reached a pinnacle with a historic hat-trick in Atalanta’s 3-0 Europa League final win over Bayer Leverkusen in May, clinching the club’s first European trophy.

Continuing his stellar form into the 2024/25 season, Lookman has scored eight goals and registered five assists, drawing attention from top European clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal.

Having joined Atalanta in 2022 from RB Leipzig, Lookman is now set for a lucrative contract extension as the club seeks to fend off suitors. Reports indicate Atalanta has proposed raising his current €2.3 million salary to €3.5 million annually, aiming to keep him in Bergamo until 2027, which would make him one of their highest-paid players.

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The Nigeria international nearly moved to PSG last summer, having agreed to personal terms before Atalanta halted the transfer.

With his impressive performances, Lookman is now a strong contender for the CAF Men’s Player of the Year award, potentially following in the footsteps of compatriot Victor Osimhen. His 14th-place finish in this year’s Ballon d’Or rankings, ahead of many top players, made him the highest-ranked African on the list.

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