Nigeria international Ademola Lookman has revealed that he watches a lot of Sadio Mane’s videos and tries to model his game on the former Liverpool star.
Lookman has improved a lot in the last two years, having gone from an inconsistent player to one of the most prolific wingers in Europe currently.
The 26-year-old swapped clubs several times during his fledgling years in search of playing time after breaking out of Charlton Athletic Academy. He went on to sign for Everton in 2019 but didn’t play much time before moving to RB Leipzig.
In his three years at the German club, Lookman enjoyed very little game time and spent two of those years on loan at Fulham and Leicester City in the Premier League before joining Atalanta in the summer of 2022 for a €15 million fee.
Since moving to Italy, the Super Eagles forward has taken his game to another level. He scored 15 goals and provided eight assists last season to help Atalanta qualify for the UEFA Europa League. He has also carried his rich vein of form into the current campaign, where he has been involved in a combined 13 goals and assists in all competitions.
Ademola Lookman names Sadio Mane as his idol
Lookman was also in impressive form during Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024) campaign in the Ivory Coast earlier this year. The Atalanta forward scored three goals as the Super Eagles reached the final.
He was also Nigeria’s joint-top scorer in the AFCON, while deservedly being named in the team of the tournament following his outstanding performances.
Having hit double figures for combined goals and assists in successive seasons for the time in his career, Lookman has revealed that he modelled his game around Mane to sharpen his threat up front. He explained that the former Liverpool and Bayern winger knows how to attack the little spaces, which is something he observed and tried to inculcate in his own game.
“The guy who I always looked at the most would have to be Sadio Mane. Looking at his threat in the box, his threat in those little tight spaces, his movement — I have watched a lot of his game in particular,” Lookman told The Athletic.
“I watch my clips back, and it’s nice to be able to see your performance from a different perspective. It gives you more belief in knowing that you’re getting better and developing in certain areas.”
“I also have a couple of mentors who will sit down with me and analyse my game. Having their view on certain situations and certain parts of my game helps a lot to get those different perspectives.”
Lookman targets Liverpool upset in Europa League quarter-finals
Lookman and Atalanta currently sit in sixth position in Serie A as they aim to snatch a top-four place with just seven games left.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side are also in the running for the Europa League, where they’ll be facing Liverpool in the first leg of the quarter-finals on Thursday. Lookman is aware of how difficult it is to play against the Reds, but is also buoyed by the fact that he scored against Jurgen Klopp’s side during his stint with Leicester – in a game that the Foxes won.
Ahead of the big Europa League clash, the Nigeria international believes Atalanta have what it takes to upset Liverpool.
“Yeah, that was a big goal [for Leicester against Liverpool]. We needed a big win at that time and obviously scoring a goal that won the game was a big boost to my confidence,” Lookman told The Athletic.
“The spectacle speaks for itself but, for us [Atalanta], there is an opportunity for us to go and show what we are about. We’ve earned the right to be here, so let’s go there and play our football.”
Lookman has scored nine goals and provided four assists in all competitions for Atalanta this season and would be hoping to sting Liverpool once again during Thursday’s Europa League clash.
