Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has touted Ademola Lookman for the club captaincy in the near future, Afrosport reports.
The reigning African Player of the Year scored the final goal in La Dea’s 4-0 thumping of Juventus on Sunday night, matching his career-best tally of 13 goals from the 2022-23 season.
The relationship between the former and Gasperini has been somewhat frosty after the Italian tactician was critical of his penalty miss in the 3-1 home loss to Club Brugge in the Champions League knockout playoffs.
The 67-year-old has however praised the qualities of Lookman and believes he can wear the armband before the conclusion of the season.
“When a group spends 300 days together in a year, people can have different views,” he said per Football Italia.
“Lookman became a fantastic player when he improved his perception of the team. He used to have a more individual approach. He wasn’t a bad guy, but he mostly focused on the individual. He made Atalanta great, and Atalanta made him great. I am convinced he can be the captain before the end of the season.”
Let’s keep going like this. Together! 💙 pic.twitter.com/L8YdmMnL3z
— Ademola Lookman (@Alookman_) March 9, 2025
Atalanta are third in the Serie A standings and are just three points behind leaders Inter Milan.
