Atalanta manager, Gian Piero Gasperini has praised Lee Congerton, the club’s head of senior recruitment, for securing the services of Super Eagles striker Ademola Lookman.
Lookman joined La Dea on a four-year contract last summer for a fee of €15 million after an unsuccessful spell with German Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.
The 25-year-old has been in imperious form for Atalanta this season, with 13 goals and three assists in 19 games across all competitions, including 11 goals in Serie A, making him second on the goalscorers’ list behind fellow countryman Victor Osimhen.
The former Fulham forward bagged two goals and an assist in his side’s 3-3 draw with Juventus on Sunday, and his 64-year-old manager praised the club’s recruitment chief for grabbing the phenomenal forward.
🔥 @Alookman_ is on fire 🔥#JuveAtalanta pic.twitter.com/M2dWyMYfjQ
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) January 22, 2023
After their clash against the Old Lady, Gasperini hailed Congerton for signing the Nigerian international and Danish teenage forward Rasmus Hojlund, another player who has impressed so far.
While speaking to Football Italia during his post-match press conference, he said: “This new director, he is responsible for scouting, Lee Congerton spotted these players, he knew him [Lookman] because they were together at Leicester City.”
“He was quick for Hojlund, the club made an important investment in this lad. The club bought these two players who have been helping me work well,” the Italian added.
The 19-year-old Hojlund signed for Atalanta from Austrian club Sturm Graz for a five-year deal worth €17 million and has scored five goals in 16 games this season.
Atalanta are now on 35 points, two points behind Roma in the final Champions League spot, having scored 37 goals in the league this season, with Lookman accounting for 30% of the goals.
L⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️KM🅰️🅰️N
La settimana di Ademola 👆@Alookman_‘s week 👌🏾👀👌🏾#JuveAtalanta #GoAtalantaGo ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/zKjxj1CPrK
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) January 22, 2023
