Ademola Lookman has been topped the African Participant of the 12 months, following a stellar 12 months at Atalanta through which he bagged a hat-trick within the Europa League remaining in opposition to Bayer Leverkusen.
Previous to excelling at Atalanta, although, Lookman needed to overcome some difficulties – particularly throughout a 2020/21 season-long mortgage at Fulham from RB Leipzig.
Stepping as much as take a penalty within the 98th minute of a Premier League sport in opposition to West Ham on the London Stadium, Lookman knew that he wanted to attain to degree the scores and earn Fulham some extent.
Ademola Lookman recollects Panenka penalty miss
However, as a substitute of sticking his laces via the ball or inserting it excessive into one of many corners, the Nigerian worldwide determined to try a Panenka. Lukasz Fabianski had already dived, however had sufficient time to get again to his toes and catch the tame effort.
“Sure, they weren’t very proud of me, however, you already know, they gave me a variety of love and assist after particularly the coach, Scott Parker,” Lookman informed Flashscore.
“He helped me so much to beat that point however like I stated on the stage it’s about turning your ache into energy.
“I’ve managed to do this over the previous couple of years and proceed to take action. To the youngsters on the market aspiring to enhance and obtain in life: life might knock you down, and it could not deal you the very best playing cards.”
However whereas Fulham have been relegated on the finish of that marketing campaign, Lookman’s miss fortuitously did not have an excessive amount of of a bearing on their remaining standings. 9 factors adrift of Burnley in seventeenth, one level gained in opposition to West Ham nonetheless would not have been sufficient for the Cottagers to outlive.
Lookman, in the meantime, returned to the Premier League the next season on one other mortgage, this time with Leicester Metropolis. He fared somewhat higher there, scoring six targets within the high flight earlier than incomes a everlasting transfer to Atalanta on the finish of the marketing campaign.
