Former Super Eagles striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has shared his thoughts on Ademola Lookman’s situation at Atalanta, backing the Nigerian forward to move past his recent transfer saga and refocus on delivering the goods in Bergamo, Footynaija.com reports.
Lookman’s summer transfer row with Atalanta was followed by his exile from the first team when a move failed to materialize and most recently, his reintegration into the squad following the Nigerian forwards apology to his coaches and teammates.
The focus at Atalanta is now on getting Lookman back to full fitness and helping him rediscover that mesmerizing form that has made him the Italian club’s most prized asset over the last few years.
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Weighing in on the situation, Yakubu commended both club and player for putting their differences aside to continue working together. While the former striker acknowledged the difficulty of the entire situation, he backed his compatriot to continue doing the business for La Dea.
Yakubu Aiyegbeni’s take on Lookman-Atalanta truce
“I know situations like this can be very difficult for a player,” Yakubu said in an interview with Footy-Africa. “When a move you were expecting doesn’t happen, it affects your state of mind.
“But I must commend Lookman for staying patient and Atalanta for welcoming him back in. For me, the most important thing is that he is back on the pitch, because that is where he can do what he does best, scoring goals and making an impact for his team.
“Atalanta need him, and he also needs Atalanta to keep pushing his career forward. It’s good to see they have found common ground, and I hope from here he can enjoy his football again, stay focused, and deliver the performances we all know he is capable of.”
So far, Lookman has seen only three minutes of Serie A action since his return to Ivan Juric’s squad. He was an unused substitute in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Juventus, perhaps a reflection of his current standing within Atalanta’s ranks.
However, we expect to see the Super Eagles star return to prominence in Bergamo as the season progresses. With Champions League action and Cup games on the roster, Lookman will surely get plenty of opportunities to re-endear himself to Atalanta fans.
