Ademola Lookman tagged ‘irreplaceable’ by Atalanta boss
Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has confirmed there is no replacement for Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman.
Lookman has been highly praised for his standout performance in Atalanta’s 5-0 win over Sturm Graz in the UEFA Champions League. Coming on at halftime, he scored the fourth goal in the 90th minute, bringing his season tally to 14 goals in 26 games across all competitions.
As Atalanta’s most important player, Lookman must be protected from injuries at all costs. Gasperini spoke about his decision to rotate players and highlighted the need to be cautious with Lookman.
“We have to be careful because right now we don’t have a replacement for Lookman and De Ketelaere unless Zaniolo becomes that type of player,” he said.
The manager also emphasised the importance of having players who can make an impact when coming off the bench, stating, “I believe that the attack is fundamental, having players like [Lookman] who can come in and be decisive is important.”
Lookman, the current African Player of the Year, will be key for Atalanta’s chances of winning Serie A and making a deep run in the Champions League.
