Ademola Lookman: Ex-Real Madrid star urges Napoli to target Atalanta ace over Man United’s Garnacho

Former Real Madrid striker Antonio Cassano has urged Napoli to prioritise signing Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman over Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho in the January transfer window, Soccernet.ng reports.

Napoli recently bid farewell to one of their biggest stars, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who joined Paris Saint-Germain in a €75 million deal.

The Serie A champions are now actively seeking a replacement for their departed playmaker.

While Manchester United’s Garnacho has emerged as a potential option, Cassano believes the 20-year-old Argentine might struggle to adapt to Napoli’s demanding environment under manager Antonio Conte.

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Garnacho has registered just three goals and one assist in 21 Premier League appearances this season, struggling to secure a consistent spot in United’s starting XI.

“Garnacho is young and strong, but he’s not always a starter at United, who are in difficulty. And then he has to go to a complicated club where there’s a lot of pressure, where the coach grinds your balls,” Cassano made his case during the podcast Viva el Futbol as per Tutto Napoli. 

Instead, the outspoken former striker sees Ademola Lookman, reigning African Footballer of the Year, as the ideal choice for Napoli.

Lookman, who joined Atalanta from RB Leipzig in 2022, has excelled in Serie A, establishing himself as one of the league’s top performers over the past two seasons.

The Nigerian international has delivered an impressive 34 goals and 21 assists in 80 Serie A appearances for Atalanta.

This season, Lookman has already notched 13 goals and six assists in 25 games across all competitions, a remarkable feat for a player who primarily operates as a winger rather than a traditional striker.

Cassano believes Napoli could secure Lookman in a swap deal involving Giacomo Raspadori, reducing the cost of the transfer.

“I take €75 million for Kvara? I go to Atalanta, I give them €45-50 million plus Raspadori, and I take Lookman now because he scores goals, assists, and works for the team,” Cassano added.

“If I have to choose between him and Garnacho, I’ll take Lookman for life. He’s 28 years old, and he was going to PSG in the summer.

“But PSG has now taken Kvaratskhelia. For me, with Raspadori at Atalanta, everyone is happy—they make another capital gain.”

Coincidentally, Lookman scored one of his ten Serie A goals this season against Napoli over the weekend, although Atalanta ultimately lost 3-2.