Former Italy national team coach has compared Ademola Lookman to a now-retired Italy great.
Italian manager Cesare Prandelli has compared Atalanta's forward Ademola Lookman to legendary Udinese striker Antonio Di Natale.
The Nigerian has recently taken a step up in his career. He made the world notice when he scored a hat-trick to help Atalanta win the Europa League against an otherwise unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen side.
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Ademola Lookman: Nigerian forward beaten to Serie A feat by Mateo Retegui
Despite registering his fourth goal contribution in the league against Genoa, Lookman was pipped to the post by Retegui.
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OFFICIAL: Osimhen dropped, Boniface, Lookman lead Super Eagles squad for Libya double-header
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) have released the 23-man list for the AFCON qualifier clashes against Libya slated for October 11th and 15th.
He has continued that impressive form this season, scoring or assisting six times in six matches in the league and Champions League.
What Prandelli said
After another impressive performance, Prandelli, who coached Atalanta in the early 90s compared the former Leipzig forward to Di Natale.
Now a coach, Di Natale was revered for his interpretation of the striker role in his playing days. He was able to make things happen for this team, as well as score goals, traits that the former Azzurri manager sees in Lookman.
“Lookman reminds me of Di Natale, if we really look for a comparison,” he said, per L’Interista.
“One thing is certain: he had never scored so many goals; Gasperini completed him.
“He has stamina, devastating counterattacks on 30-40 meters and always heads for the goal; his dribbles are never an end in themselves, but to attack the area.”
Meanwhile, Lookman consistently replicates his form for Atalanta while on Super Eagles duty.
He scored twice to help Nigeria beat Benin Republic in the last international. Coach Austin Eguavoen would be looking to him to step up once more as he named him in the 23-man squad to face Libya.