Genoa head coach Daniele De Rossi believes that Atalanta will miss Ademola Lookman when the sides meet in Serie A this weekend and during the AFCON, describing the Nigerian winger as a decisive presence.
Genoa host Atalanta on Sunday in a matchday 16 encounter, with the visitors travelling without Lookman, who has departed to represent Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations.
De Rossi openly admitted the Atalanta winger is the kind of player every coach wants available, regardless of form.
“I confess that if I were to coach Lookman, I’d always want him on the pitch because in Serie A he can make the difference and shift the balance,” De Rossi said, as per FCInter19008.
“We’ve also seen how dangerous the other players on the bench are, but having him or not certainly changes things.”
Atalanta sit 12th with 19 points, well below expectations, whilst Genoa are 16th on 14 points, uncomfortably close to the relegation zone.
Though Lookman has not hit peak form this season, his threat from the left flank remains constant. The 28-year-old has scored two goals in 11 Serie A matches this campaign, but has retained his place in the starting XI under head coach Raffaele Palladino.
Lookman has registered 55 goals and 26 assists in 134 appearances since joining from RB Leipzig three years ago.
His focus now shifts to international duty, with the winger expected to hold a starting role when Nigeria face Tanzania in their opening Group C fixture on Tuesday. Lookman was a key member of the Nigerian squad that reached the 2023 AFCON final in Ivory Coast.
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