Not me: Atalanta boss reveals who to praise for Ademola Lookman’s signing after masterful Juventus display

The Nigerian international has been the signing of the season in the Italian Serie A and he was at his finest at the weekend

Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has heaped praises on the club’s Head of Senior Recruitment, Lee Congerton for his brilliant work of bringing Ademola Lookman to the club.

Lee Congerton was chief scout at Leicester City between May 2019 and March 2022 where he worked with Lookman who spent time on loan with the Foxes from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

But Atalanta snatched Congerton from Leicester in March and a few months later the 49-year-old convinced Lookman to move to Italy on a permanent deal.

As Congerton hoped, Lookman has hit the ground running in Italy where he has scored 13 goals in 19 appearances in all competitions.

Eleven of those goals have come in the Italian Serie A, where only compatriot and Napoli star Victor Osimhen has scored more.

Arguably Lookman’s best performance in Italy arrived at the weekend when he smashed a brace and assisted the other to help Atalanta to a 3-3 draw away to Juventus.

While a lot of credit has flowed in the direction of Gian Piero Gasperini, the Atalanta coach is convinced Lee Congerton should also be praised for bringing in Lookman and Rasmus Højlund (another brilliant summer signing), making his job a lot easier.

What has been said? 

“This new director, the one responsible for scouting, Lee Congerton spotted these players, he knew him [Lookman] because they were together at Leicester City,” Gasperini said during his post-match press conference, as per Calcio Mercato.

“He was quick for Højlund, the club made an important investment in this lad. The club bought these two players who have been helping me work well.”

Højlund, 19, signed for Atalanta for €17m and has scored five goals in 16 appearances this season. His contract at the Gewiss Stadium expires in June 2027.