Ademola Lookman never doubted he would make it and vowed “this is just the beginning” after firing Atalanta to Europa League glory last night.
The winger scored a stunning hat-trick to inflict Bayer Leverkusen’s first defeat in all competitions this season and secure only the second trophy in the Italian club’s history.
Lookman, who was born in Wandsworth, began his career at a youth club in Waterloo before coming through the ranks at Charlton’s academy. The 26-year-old bounced around clubs after leaving The Valley in 2017, spending a year on loan at Fulham, but he has settled in Italy and scored 30 goals across two seasons with Atalanta.
Asked if he could have ever imagined a night like this one, Lookman said: “Yeah, probably. I’ve always had confidence in my ability. The past few years I’ve been able to take my game to a new level. Maybe it would have come earlier, but it has come now.”
