The unresolvable Bayer conflict over Ademola Lookman
In 2022, Ademola Lookman departs the Bundesliga through a secret passage. In 2024, he obliterates the previously flawless Leverkusen in the Europa League final. Was his phenomenal performance the zenith of his career or simply "just the start?"
The most noteworthy event in Ademola Lookman's Bundesliga tenure took place at the onset. On February 3, 2018, the petite striker, who had joined from Everton FC in England during the midseason break, came off the bench for the final stage. The score was a stalemate between Borussia Mönchengladbach and RB Leipzig, Lookman's new club. What transpires thereafter revels manager Ralph Hasenhüttl's doubt. Lookman struggles to find his footing on the Gladbach surface, repeatedly slipping away. Changing his footwear is out of the question; the London-born athlete had forgotten the rest of his shoes in England. And so Hasenhüttl wants to replace the 20-year-old. But Ademola Lookman unexpectedly scores the winning goal in the 89th minute. "He was fortunate to remain on the field," joked Hasenhüttl later.
The second half of the season presented a promising picture for the loan signing. Although he only played over 90 minutes in two matches, he demonstrated his prowess time and again with a solid nine goals in eleven games, three of which came against Hertha BSC on the final day of the 2017/18 season itself. These would be his last scoring moments for RB.
No loan is keen on igniting
However, this, in spite of the fact that Lookman - after a year back at Everton - joined RB for €20 million permanently in the summer of 2019. Nevertheless, he featured in the Bundesliga for just 130 minutes in the first half of the season. This was followed by loan stints at Fulham and Leicester City. Lookman will remain contracted to Leipzig until the summer of 2022. The Saxon club will then receive almost half of the initial transfer fee of 9.5 million from Atalanta Bergamo. The swift striker hasn't been particularly effective on loan and Leipzig has no room for Lookman amidst world-class forward players like Dani Olmo and Dominik Szoboszlai.
However, you'll find him thriving in Bergamo. Equipped with ample playing time, the versatile attacking player that many Leipzig managers seemingly saw in Lookman is making an impact in northern Italy. In 76 games for Atalanta, he netted a total of 30 goals and supplied 16 assists. The Euroleague final against Bayer turned out to be Lookman's showcase. In the penalty area, he confidently converted rebounds and passes (as in the 1:0 against Leverkusen). Meanwhile, his technique and pace allow him to create his own scoring chances (as seen in the other two goals against Bayer).
All of Lookman's talents are too much for the Bayer defense. Leverkusen seems powerless against so much composure, velocity, and expertise. According to "Kicker," Bayer was seeking a player who could furnish more width the previous summer, yet Lookman did not make the shortlist. He has also become Atalanta's reliable penalty taker, but extending his contract in Dublin is improbable due to his star performance.
Only Vini Junior is superior
An in-depth examination of his statistics showcases Lookman's playmaking abilities should not be undermined. He averages eleven "space-winning" passes per ninety minutes, either covering ten meters of the field or reaching a teammate in the penalty area. This number exceeds the majority of other strikers in the top European leagues, with Real's Vinicius Junior leading the pack with 12.6. His keen vision outshines other strikers, while his competitors in attacking midfield are less lethal than Lookman. The hybrid of a finisher and a playmaker mirrors a former Leipzig project that proved more fruitful in Saxony: Christopher Nkunku.
Lookman admitted after the final that he has elevated his game to "a new level" in recent years. This progress also includes an unexpected reliability in knockout matches. In the round of 16 of the Europa League, he scored the equalizer in the second leg against Sporting Lisbon. He clinched the semifinal second leg against Olympique Marseille with a goal and an assist, as well as the final against Leverkusen. In the Italian Cup, he secured Atalanta's spot in the final with a goal and an assist in the semifinal second leg after losing the first leg against Florence. And in the Africa Cup, he netted all three goals for Nigeria in the round of 16 and quarterfinals, only to miss in the semifinals after a penalty shoot-out.
At 26, Ademola Lookman seems to have reached the apex of his career. Or has he? "This is merely the start," remarked the man of the evening following the Europa League triumph. The platform for such performances will soon be even grander. For the first time since his Leipzig interlude, Lookman will compete in the Champions League again in the next campaign - perhaps against Bayer Leverkusen.
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After his impressive showcase in the Europa League final against Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Ademola Lookman's Atalanta Bergamo secured a spot in the Champions League, potentially facing RB Leipzig in the future. Despite some challenges in Germany and loan spells, Lookman has flourished in Italy, proving his worth in the prestigious European competition.
In 2024, Ademola Lookman, now a key player for Atalanta Bergamo, outperforms Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the Europa League final, a stark contrast to his early struggles with RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga. His impressive performance against his former Bundesliga club further cemented his reputation in European soccer.
Source: www.ntv.de
