Super Eagles and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman was finally off the mark for club and country this season after scoring against AC Milan last night.
The 28-year-old’s last goal came in May, before yesterday, as he has struggled with fitness and hasn’t been able to reach top form after a summer transfer saga that saw his move to Inter Milan declined.
A brilliant left-footed strike saw Lookman put Atalanta level after Samuele Ricci broke the deadlock for the visitors.
Lookman unhappy at Atalanta?
While many prolific goal scorers celebrate in a rather cathartic manner when they score after a long spell without a goal, the former Fulham man’s celebration was rather curtailed.
He barely conveyed any emotion, nor broke a smile, not even after he was given the man of the match award. Quizzed if he’s happy at Bergamo, Lookman said:
“It’s important to be available for the team, to help the team,” the CAF 2024 Player of the Year told DAZN Italia.
“I’ve not been able to find form yet, physically or in front of goal, but I’ll get there eventually, and this was a step forward in the right direction. Hopefully, in the coming games, we’ll be able to get some wins.”
Lookman has made it clear that he does not want to discuss the past or what has happened in recent months.
“I think that when I’m on the pitch, the most important thing is to try to help the team win. We want to keep climbing up the table, and that’s the most important thing, to win football games.”
Atalanta have now played five consecutive draws, scoring just three goals. Last night, they had 17 shots on goal, but only scored once, leaving their coach Ivan Juric frustrated.
“I think we did very well, both winning the ball back and creating chances in transition, but also keeping calm moving the ball around when inevitably Allegri’s teams sit deep,” the Croatian manager said in quotes revealed by Football Italia.
“It’s really disappointing that we aren’t picking up more points, because we deserve them. I remain convinced we will break through and get those results.”
However, the former Southampton coach was pleased to see the London-born Nigerian star getting on the scoresheet again.
“I think we pushed him to play more than perhaps he should’ve done in these games because we wanted him to achieve match fitness.
“He is a particular type of guy, but in training and on the pitch, he is a sight to behold, just a spectacular player.
“A winner, with incredible determination, and I am very happy for him. We were only talking yesterday, he said if he trains like this, the goal will come, and today he scored a great goal,” Juric concluded.
Up next for Atalanta is a trip to the Bluenergy Stadium as they take on Maduka Okoye’s Udinese.