Ademola Lookman got a second chance at his career, and he certainly grabbed this chance with his bare hands.
The Nigerian striker may not have garnered much attention in some months, but after trailing his countryman, Victor Osimhen, with 9 goals, he has elicited reactions from the Nigerian football community and the world at large.
Now, the Super Eagles attacker, who moved to Serie A last summer, has scored 9 goals in 17 games for Atalanta, including a brace against Salernitana, and also grabbed two goals against Spezia.
11 – Only Victor Osimhen (13) and Lautaro Martínez (12) have scored more goals in all competitions this season for Serie A clubs than Atalanta's Ademola Lookman (11). This is already the highest scoring season of his career. Thriving. pic.twitter.com/YPDtus9qwO
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 19, 2023
After his nine goals have tied him for second place in the league with Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez and Spezia’s Mbala Nzola, the only thing left for Mola this season is to start lashing in hatricks.
The striker, who was a flop in the EPL was named to the Serie A squad of the week, and he is currently considered as one of the finest players in the Serie A competition.
Mola struggled in the Premier League for teams like as Everton, Leicester, and Fulham, but his transfer to Gewiss Stadium has been a success so far.
His journey to success has been fraught with setbacks, as he joined Charlton’s academy at the age of 16 after beginning his career at Waterloo.
He was promoted to the Addicks’ first team in 2015, where he scored 12 goals in 49 games.
Two years later, the growing star made a major move to Everton, but he struggled with just four goals in 48 games. This resulted in a loan spell with RB Leipzig in 2018, and his strong performances prompted the Bundesliga giants to sign him permanently a year later.
However, the former England Under-21 international was quickly loaned out again in the Premier League, this time to Fulham and Leicester in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Lookman scored four goals at Craven Cottage and eight at the King Power Stadium.
As a result, Leipzig sold him to Atalanta in the summer, and he has since been blazing all guns for Gian Piero Gasperini’s team, with goals and significant assists.