Random News

Trendbrio.com

News and Entertainment Update

Tag: Atalanta

Ademola Lookman slams ‘disrespectful’ Atalanta coach

Our Reporters04 mins

Ademola Lookman has hit back at his own manager after being slammed as “one of the worst penalty-takers I’ve ever seen” following a crushing Champions League defeat. Gian Piero Gasperini made the damning comments after the former Everton winger’s spot kick was saved by ex-Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet in Champions League playoff defeat to Club Brugge. The Nigerian had netted the only goal for La Dea off the bench but they were eliminated 5-2 on aggregate, losing 3-1 on the night. Despite his mixed evening, Gasperini stuck the knife in on the negatives and singled out the 27 year old, who played under Brendan Rodgers at Leicester City, to the media at full time. The Atalanta star missed the spot kick and it was claimed he is not the designated penalty-taker. The Italian coach said: “Lookman was not supposed to take that penalty, he is one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen. He has a frankly terrible record even in training, he converts very few of them. Retegui and De Ketelaere were there, but Lookman in a moment of enthusiasm after scoring decided to take the ball and that was a gesture I did not appreciate at all.” Lookman took to X in response, claiming he has been ‘singled out’ and disrespected. He posted: “It saddens me on a day like this to have to write this statement most of all because of what we have achieved together as a team and as a city. Being singled out in the manner I have been not only hurts but feels deeply disrespectful, not least because of the immense hard work and commitment I have always put in each and every day to help bring success to this club and to the incredible fans of Bergamo. “In truth, I have dealt with many difficult moments during my time here – the majority of which I have never spoken about because in my opinion the team must always be protected and must come first. This makes what happened last night even more hurtful. “Along with our incredible fans, we as a team are hurting too with last night’s result. During the match the designated penalty taker instructed me to take the penalty; and to support the team I took responsibility in the moment to do so. Life’s about challenges and turning pain into power which I’ll continue to do.”

Read More

Champions League: Ademola Lookman ruled out of Barca clash

Our Reporters01 mins

Nigeria international Ademola Lookman will miss Atalanta’s away Champions League match at Barcelona on Wednesday due to a knee problem. According to Gazzetta, Lookman won’t fly to Catalunya with the rest of the team today and will undergo tests on his injured knee in Bergamo. The nature of Lookman’s injury is still unclear, but according to Gazzetta, it could force the striker to the sidelines for one month. Gazzetta claimed that Lookman sustained the injury during a training session on Monday. Lookman, 27, has 14 goals and seven assists in 27 appearances across all competitions with Atalanta this season. This past December, he was named the Best African Player of 2024. A former Fulham, Everton and Leicester City striker, Lookman joined Atalanta from RB Leipzig for just €9.3m in the summer of 2022. He has scored 46 goals in 105 appearances with La Dea.

Read More

Atalanta rejects Liverpool interest in Lookman

Our Reporters02 mins

Atalanta are unwilling to sell any of their stars in the January transfer window, including Ademola Lookman, who is wanted by Liverpool. Premier League giants Liverpool have eyed Atalanta striker Lookman, but La Dea will not sell any of their stars in the winter transfer window. Tuttosport newspaper claimed that Atalanta have already ‘said no’ to a Liverpool request for the 27-year-old striker. The Nigeria international was named the Best African Player of 2024 and has contributed to impressive results from the Nerazzurri. Lookman has already scored 11 goals and provided five assists in 19 appearances across all competitions this term. Last season, he helped Atalanta win their first European trophy by scoring a hat-trick in the Europa League Final against Bayer Leverkusen. Atalanta have won ten consecutive matches in Serie A and are the current table leader. Lookman was in talks to join PSG last summer but eventually remained in Bergamo, where his contract expires in 2026. Liverpool’s domestic rivals Manchester City have targeted another Atalanta star, Ederson, but La Dea will keep hold of the Brazilian until the end of the season.

Read More

Lookman fires Atalanta to Serie A summit 

Our Reporters02 mins

Nigeria forward Lookman continued his superb form by nodding in his 10th goal of the campaign with three minutes remaining at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo. The 27-year-old met Sead Kolasinac’s flick-on from a corner to give Atalanta a club-record equalling ninth straight win in Italy’s top flight and further boost hopes of a first-ever Scudetto for the traditionally small, provincial club. Alvaro Morata had looked to have earned seventh-placed Milan a point in a fiery atmosphere with his 22nd-minute leveller after former Rossoneri flop Charles De Ketelaere had crashed Atalanta ahead in the 12th minute with a thumping header. Napoli host Lazio on Sunday night and Antonio Conte’s team will have to beat the team who knocked them out of the Italian Cup if they are to reclaim their narrow league lead. Atalanta now turn their attentions to Tuesday’s visit of Real Madrid in the Champions League when they can strengthen their case for direct qualification for the last 16 and get revenge for defeat in the European Super Cup in August.

Read More

Atalanta wants €50m for Ademola Lookman

Our Reporters02 mins

Atalanta value their star striker Ademola Lookman at €50m, according to Il Corriere dello Sport. The Nigeria international has had a stunning start to the season with eight goals and five assists in 14 appearances across all competitions with Atalanta. He was approached by Ligue 1 giants PSG over the summer, but Atalanta eventually persuaded him to remain at the club. The striker’s contract at the Gewiss Stadium expires in June 2026, but the Serie A side have an option to extend it for a further campaign, raising his salary to €2m per season. Friday’s printed edition of Corriere dello Sport reported that any interested club will be required to pay at least €50m for the 27-year-old striker who moved to Bergamo from RB Leipzig for just €9.3m in the summer of 2022. Atalanta is healthy financially, so the club is unwilling to sell Lookman in the January transfer window but may listen to offers in the summer. Lookman inspired Atalanta’s Europa League victory last season with a hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen and finished 14th in the 2024 Ballon d’Or ranking.

Read More

Ademola Lookman bags Globe Soccer Awards nomination

Our Reporters03 mins

Nigeria and Atalanta star Ademola Lookman has been nominated for the 2024 Globe Soccer awards, joining a shortlist of global stars that includes Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Premier League players like Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer. The 27-year-old’s performances for Atalanta have earned him a place in the Best Men’s Player category, where he contends with standout names such as Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Mohamed Salah. Lookman’s inclusion on the list makes him one of only two African players nominated, with Salah joining him in contrast to the Ballon d’Or, which featured only Lookman as a nominee. The former Everton youngster played a key role in Atalanta’s successful UEFA Europa League campaign, scoring a hat-trick in their 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the final. Across Italy’s Serie A in 2024, he contributed 17 goals and 11 assists, making him the player with the highest goal involvement this year. Lookman’s achievements also extend to the international stage, where he scored three goals and made one assist during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, pushing the Super Eagles to the final. In addition to his Globe Soccer nomination, Lookman recently placed 14th in the Ballon d’Or rankings and remains a strong contender for African Men’s Footballer of the Year, competing against the likes of compatriot William Troost-Ekong. Lookman, who is currently with the Super Eagles, will see if his efforts are recognized when the Globe Soccer Awards, organized by the Dubai Sports Council, take place on December 27.

Read More