Lookman bags Italian Football awards nomination

Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has been nominated for the Forward of the Year category at the prestigious Gran Galà del Calcio awards following his outstanding performances for Atalanta last season, The PUNCH reports.

The 27-year-old, who is also in contention for the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award, will compete against Inter Milan duo Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez, as well as AC Milan’s Rafael Leao for the honour.

Lookman’s nomination comes after a remarkable season that saw him emerge as Europe’s most productive attacking player in the latter stages of the 2023/24 campaign, registering 14 goal contributions (eight goals and six assists) from April onwards, more than any other player across Europe’s top five leagues.

The former Everton striker’s stellar performances reached their pinnacle in the UEFA Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, where he netted a historic hat-trick to crown a season that saw him amass an impressive 17 goals and 10 assists across all competitions.

His rich vein of form has continued into the current season, with the Nigeria international already notching eight goals and five assists in just 14 appearances for La Dea.

The London-born forward’s exceptional displays have not gone unnoticed on the continental stage, earning him recognition at various prestigious awards. He is currently among the final five nominees for the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award alongside Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy, Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi and South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

The Gran Galà del Calcio, organised by the Italian Players’ Association, celebrates excellence across Italian football, with winners selected through votes from association members. The ceremony is scheduled for December 2nd.

Lookman’s club, Atalanta, is also in contention for the Serie A Club of the Year award alongside Inter Milan and Juventus, while his manager, Gian Piero Gasperini, has been nominated for Coach of the Year, competing with Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi and Thiago Motta of Bologna/Juventus.

The forward’s journey to Serie A success began in south London with Charlton Athletic, before spells in the Premier League with Everton, Fulham, and Leicester City, as well as a stint with German side RB Leipzig. His 2022 move to Atalanta has proved transformative, establishing him as one of Serie A’s most dangerous attackers.

The winners of the Gran Galà del Calcio awards will be announced two weeks before the CAF Awards ceremony in Marrakech, Morocco, where Lookman is favoured to claim the continent’s top individual prize following his exceptional year for both club and country.