Ukrainian teenage sensation Oleksandr Dragan has heaped praise on Africa's reigning Footballer of the Year Ademola Lookman, describing the Nigerian forward as a role model and mentor at Atalanta, Soccernet.ng reports.
Dragan and Lookman both joined the Italian club in the summer of 2022, but their arrivals followed different trajectories.
While Lookman went straight into Gian Piero Gasperini's first team, the Ukrainian was integrated into Atalanta's youth setup.
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Despite their contrasting paths, both players have enjoyed steady progress in Bergamo. Dragan's impressive rise has seen him climb from the U17 squad to the U18s before recently signing his first professional contract.
Lookman, on the other hand, has been nothing short of transformative since his arrival from RB Leipzig.
The Nigerian international has twice been named Atalanta's Player of the Year, with his crowning moment coming last season when he fired the club to their first-ever UEFA Europa League title.
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The 26-year-old scored a historic hat-trick in the 3-0 final win over Bayer Leverkusen – the first-ever treble in a Europa League final – earning him a Ballon d'Or nomination and CAF's African Player of the Year award.
While Lookman's brilliance on the pitch has been widely celebrated, his impact behind the scenes appears to be just as significant.
Dragan, who has recently started training with Atalanta's senior team, revealed how the former Everton and Fulham winger has been a guiding figure for him during his early steps into professional football.
When asked by Dynamo.kiev.ua which first-team players had impressed him the most, Dragan said:
“There are three people — de Ketelaere, Lookman, and Retegui. That's top level!”
Pressed on who had taken him under their wing, Dragan singled out Lookman, describing him as a warm and uplifting presence in the dressing room.
“Lookman. As a person, he is very pleasant, friendly, cheerful, always with a smile on his face. Ademola radiates kindness.”
The teenager also revealed the simple but profound advice Lookman had passed on to him:
“Lookman told me: ‘Boy, just have fun on the field. Football is fun. You don’t need to stress, always be relaxed and then everything will be fine.'”
Lookman's future at Atalanta remains uncertain, with several top clubs circling for his signature this summer. The Nigerian was close to joining Paris Saint-Germain last year before the move fell through in the final stages of negotiations.
However, with his relationship with Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini seemingly broken down beyond repair, Lookman looks set to leave at the end of this campaign.
Premier League giants Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Newcastle have all been linked with the winger, who has registered 17 goals and seven assists across all competitions this season.
