It has been on the cards for a while, but Ademola Lookman’s departure from Bergamo is a major blow. Giancarlo Rinaldi looks back on how he wrote his way into the club’s history.

There may have been more typical stories of how a player has had their career transformed at Atalanta, but surely not many. The Bergamaschi – especially during Gian Piero Gasperini’s reign – developed a happy knack of taking footballers that had failed to truly ignite elsewhere and turning them into pyrotechnic success stories. Few have burned brighter than Ademola Lookman.

The London-born Nigerian international first emerged with Charlton nearly a decade ago and went through a string of moves that never really worked out. At Everton, RB Leipzig, Fulham and Leicester, there were always sparks of brilliance but never with the consistency that any of those clubs had hoped for. It was not until 2022 – with his 25th birthday just a few months away – that he would finally find the perfect place to let his talents shine.

Lookman’s Atalanta move

La Dea, we know, has a habit of performing this magic – particularly under their silver-haired coach now departed for Roma. Gasperini’s brilliance is both in the overall teamplay that his sides produce but also in elevating players who have perhaps been underachievers elsewhere. Nowhere was this more in evidence than with Lookman.

He quickly became a mainstay in the Atalanta attack and also a goal threat with much greater regularity than he ever found elsewhere. If the club became something of a cult hit in Europe, it owed much to his breathtaking displays. Defenders across Italy and the rest of the continent were left dizzy by his close control and thumping finishes. This was a devastating player at the peak of his powers.

His crowning glory, surely, was the Europa League final against a Bayer Leverkusen side which had previously looked invincible. Yes, it was a masterpiece of tactics from Gasperini and an epic team performance too, but at the heart of everything good was Lookman. Everything he touched turned into a goalscoring chance, and the hat-trick he eventually completed cemented his place in the club’s hall of fame. It is unlikely to be a more impressive display for the Bergamo club in Europe ever again.

Of course, that turned heads – perhaps even the player himself got a little distracted. Certainly, things did not run quite as smoothly after that, and there were constant rumours that he was on the way out. Still, when he was on song, he remained a key part of the Atalanta attack. That he finished with more than 50 goals in less than 140 games without being an out-and-out striker tells you all you need to know. Add to that nearly 30 assists, and you get some idea of how significant a contributor he was to the club. The fact that these totals eclipse the entirety of the rest of his career also underlines how important the Lombardy side was to him.

All good things, of course, must come to an end and the conclusion of the Gasperini era in the summer was always likely to be followed by a few departures. It is also in the nature of things at the New Balance Arena – or whatever their ground is called now – that their best talents will move on. Lookman will now test his talents in La Liga with Atletico Madrid.

That looks like a mouthwatering prospect, but he should be warned that moving away from the city, famously divided into its higher and lower sections, can also have its ups and downs. Although they have always been about the team more than any individual, he was undoubtedly a star of their European and Serie A exploits. He is just one star among many at the Spanish club.

Still, he has all the skills in the world to thrive in his new surroundings. After a more lengthy apprenticeship than most, he emerged as a huge talent in Italy and more than earned his African Player of the Year honour in 2024. There is every chance that more honours will come his way with the Colchoneros.

Back in Bergamo, they will be entitled to feel the odd pang of nostalgia whenever they see him play. Raffaele Palladino is building a new era at the club, but he will find it hard to match up to the house that Gasperini built. And, in its later stages, Ademola Lookman was an integral part of that project. Their talented scouts will undoubtedly be scouring the planet in the hopes of unearthing another footballer who can contribute even half as much to their cause.

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Every winter, Italian clubs scramble to try to find the players who can make a mid-season difference. Giancarlo Rinaldi gives out the grades for their efforts this year.

Only a fool would try to assess the potential impact of acquisitions that have barely had a chance to play for their new employer,s but here we go again. It is worth remembering that it can sometimes be the players that you move on or keep who can be as important as the ones you bring in. With that in mind, here are the marks out of 10 for all 20 Serie A sides this winter window.

Atalanta 6/10 – In the end it probably boils down to whether you think Giacomo Raspadori plus a handsome profit is worth losing Ademola Lookman for. The ex-Napoli man looks sharp already while the departures of Daniel Maldini and Marco Brescianini may reduce the depth of the squad but should not cause major damage.

Bologna 5.5/10 – A bit of a bland market that looks unlikely to see an upturn in their midtable form. The effective swap of Emil Holm for Joao Mario with Juventus looks a balanced enough trade, while Simon Sohm will need to show an improvement on his Fiorentina form to convince that he was worth losing Giovanni Fabbian for.

Cagliari 6.5/10 – Sometimes it is not about who you buy or sell but who you keep and hanging on to a hot property like young Marco Palestra could be key to the Sardinians’ survival, which is looking more and more likely. The actual incomings and outgoings probably fall under the category of “time will tell” when it comes to their effectiveness.

Como 5/10 – On paper, at least, a little bit underwhelming for a side with such financial backing, but their eye for talent could well mean Swedish teenager Adrian Ladho is one to watch. Keeping hold of their best players – with Martin Baturina in particular attracting attention – was an achievement, but the club has sufficient wealth to say no to all but the biggest deals.

Cremonese 6/10 – None of their arrivals look like setting Serie A alight but they are all proven performers. Milan Djuric will give them a different option in attack while Youseff Maleh, Morten Thorsby and Sebastiano Luperto are well-known quantities who can surely ensure the work already done towards survival continues.

Fiorentina 5.5/10 – The best part of the Viola transfer market was probably getting rid of a number of the summer signings that did not work out including Simon Sohm, Edin Dzeko and Hans Nicolussi Caviglia. They have added width with Manor Solomon and Jack Harrison but there was no real big name to fire hopes of rocketing back up the table.

Genoa 7/10 – As a fully signed-up member of the Tommaso Baldanzi fan club, this mark is probably more in hope than expectation. Daniele De Rossi has already put the fight into the Grifone, but the talented Roma man could add that dash of quality which will make their survival fight a more stylish one than it has been so far.

Inter 5/10 – We have what we hold is an understandable approach from the Nerazzurri but not the kind of thing to get fans delighted. The purchase of Yanis Massolin is an exciting one but clearly one for the future as the young French midfielder will remain on loan at Modena, where he has shone in Serie B.

Juventus 5/10 – There was plenty of smoke but not much substance to the Bianconeri’s transfer window work with the arrivals of Emil Holm and Jeremie Boga hardly the stuff to get pulses racing. Maybe it could be argued that a recent upturn in form shows they did not need to force the issue but it will still disappoint the fans.

Lazio 5.5/10 – The Biancocelesti have been busy after having their transfer ban lifted with Kenneth Taylor already looking like a smart signing. The losses of Matteo Guendouzi and Taty Castellanos leave gaps to be filled but the biggest story was probably Alessio Romagnoli’s switch to Al-Sadd falling through due to a document mix-up, which is a bit embarrassing.

Lecce 5.5/10 – They will have to hope that they have found a couple of gems in a signing basket, including Omri Gandelman, Oumar Ngom and Sadik Fofana. The good news is that they have managed that in the past, so a repeat is not out of the question. Walid Cheddira is more of a known quantity and gives them options up front.

Milan 5/10 – Another one of Italy’s bigs to be linked with plenty of players but, in the end, they only managed a couple of arrivals. Niclas Fullkrug gives a focal point to their attack while teenager Alphadjo Cissè is definitely interesting. But the collapse of a deal for Jean-Philippe Mateta felt pretty much typical of their efforts.

Napoli 5/10 – Add their name to the list of top teams who will have left their fans feeling cheated this January. Lorenzo Lucca goes to England for a nice bundle of cash – at least potentially – while the problematic Noa Lang finds a new home. Young Verona forward Giovane and Alisson Santos from Sporting CP will at least enjoy a move up the table thanks to their transfers.

Parma 6.5/10 – It will be a battle to stay afloat but they have added some quality to their fight with Hans Nicolussi Caviglia likely to enjoy a better time than he did in Florence. Gabriel Strefezza adds a dash of unpredictability and excitement while the loss of Hernani and Mathias Lovik will hardly be felt much at all.

Pisa 4.5/10 – They had to roll the dice and they definitely have but what number will come up remains to be seen. Having got rid of Alberto Gilardino as coach, they have at least got a goal already from new man Rafiu Durosinmi. Samuel Iling-Junior knows Serie A well enough but seems unlikely to produce enough to drag them to safety.

Roma 7.5/10 – Donyell Malen may be the signing who has made the most immediate impact this winter with some eye-catching moments already. Robinio Vaz is one of the biggest investments of the window and certainly does not seem to lack character. Tommaso Baldanzi leaves having found little space while Leon Bailey was dogged by injury in his short spell in the capital.

Sassuolo 5.5/10 – Whatever the question was, can the answer possibly have been M’Bala Nzola? The Angolan was far from thrilling at Pisa but maybe he can thrive in surroundings where the pressure of potential relegation is a little bit less intense. Their other new faces are intriguing but not necessarily of immediate use.

Torino 6/10 – A decent window that will surely help the Granata to enjoy another season of survival – if not a lot more. Kristjan Asllani and Cyril Ngonge made little impression between them so it will be up to Matteo Prati and Luca Marianucci to surpass them which, in truth, should really not be too hard.

Udinese 6/10 – The revolving door at the Stadio Friuli is rarely still and there were more heading out than in this winter. Branimir Mlacic and Juan Arizala definitely fall into the players with potential category and will look to make their mark while Iker Bravo and Sandi Lovric leave due to a lack of playing time. Saba Goglichidze ensures another window sees a move between the club and Watford.

Verona 5/10 – Their coach is gone but for a club with a need of a jolt, was this transfer session sufficient? It will be exciting to see another Scot give Serie A a go in the shape of Hibs’ record sale Kieron Bowie but he will surely have his work cut out to turn things around. Sandi Lovric should do a job while Pol Lirola at least knows Italy even if he has never exactly impressed.

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