CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Atalanta ‘Magician’ Out To Ruin Arsenal’s Champions League Campaign

Ademola Lookman To Reject 'Ridiculous' Atalanta Contracts Extension

For a while, it seemed Ademola Lookman had signed off as an Atalanta player with the most flamboyant of flourishes.

His dazzling hat-trick in the Europa League final delivered a first European trophy to the club, in the process making the Italians the only side to beat Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen juggernaut all season.

You would be hard pressed to find a more decisive cup final performance. Inevitably, after the initial torrent of praise came the enquiries, with Paris Saint-Germain coming knocking for the Nigerian late in the transfer window.

Lookman ended up training alone and unavailable for selection while awaiting news after the season had started.

It was the last thing Gian Piero Gasperini needed after what had already been a difficult summer.

He had already lost star striker Gianluca Scamacca to an ACL injury, forcing Atalanta into the market to sign Italy international Mateo Retegui, while Teun Koopmeiners joined domestic rivals Juventus after a drawn-out transfer saga.

But now, with the market safely closed and nothing ultimately coming of PSG’s advances, things are looking bright again for Atalanta and Lookman alike just in time for the visit of Arsenal.

Lookman became the first Atalanta player to receive a Ballon d’Or nomination when he was named on the 30-man shortlist after a year of Europa League heroics and a starring role in Nigeria’s run to the Africa Cup of Nations final.

And on Sunday, he came in from the cold to belatedly play his first league minutes of the season against Fiorentina, putting in a man-of-the-match display in a 3-2 win that earned him gushing praise once more from the Italian media.

Lookman’s mesmerising assist for Retegui’s opener was followed by a sublime goal of his own, tying two defenders in knots before wrong-footing David de Gea with a clever finish.

“The magician is back to being a phenomenon,” gushed Gazzetta dello Sport, while Sky Sport Italia said: “His season has resumed the way the last one finished: as the best player on the pitch.”

Lookman couldn’t have timed his game-changing performance much better. Not only was it desperately needed after a humbling 4-0 defeat at Inter Milan before the international break, but it came on a landmark day in the history of his club as they played in their completely renovated stadium for the first time.

Il Giornale wrote that Lookman “turned on the lights in the new house” as Atalanta’s supporters packed into a new-look Gewiss Stadium that was finally finished after almost 2000 days of work and 100 million euros of investment.

The mood music is upbeat once more as Bergamo prepares to host Champions League football again after two years when Arsenal come to town.

It’s a challenge that Lookman will relish. Born in London to Nigerian parents, Ademola was brought up playing cage football across the capital, developing the explosive movement, one-on-one skills and quick feet that characterise his game.

His journey from the south London streets to a Ballon d’Or shortlist has taken him from Waterloo to Charlton, Everton and Leipzig, with stops in Leicester and Fulham on the way before he arrived at Atalanta.

Lookman has now played more games, 80, for the Italians than any other club and his two seasons in Lombardy have been the most prolific of his career, producing a combined 32 goals in all competitions.

But if PSG’s interest wasn’t surprising, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t disruptive.

Lookman reportedly asked not to be picked for the opening weeks of the Serie A season to avoid injury ahead of a potential move, and he trained alone until being reintegrated when a deal could not be struck.

But any worries that coming back into the fold would be problematic quickly dissolved against Fiorentina.

“He had a bit of a difficulty due to the transfer window and we were aware of that,” defender Berat Djimsiti said after the game.

“We told him to be calm… do what you were doing before, and we will all be happy. That’s what he did.”

The brilliance of Lookman’s display was the perfect way of drawing a line under the saga as attention quickly turns to Arsenal.

Rumours abound that Gasperini could sacrifice an attacker for a midfielder for the visit of the Gunners and you can see why.

Atalanta have scored and conceded eight goals in four games so far – only three teams have scored more, but nobody has conceded more.

Even a magician might find it hard to conjure up results against Europe’s elite unless that problem is solved quickly.

– inews

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Real Madrid Team Bus Involved ‘In Crash’ After Liverpool Defeat

Real Madrid‘s team bus appears to have been involved in a crash just a day after they lost to Liverpool at Anfield.

On Wednesday evening, Carlo Ancelotti’s side fell 2-0 to Liverpool at Anfield in the Champions League, with goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo preserving the Reds perfect record in Europe this term.

While the game promised to be an exciting affair when the initial draw was made at the beginning of the season, Liverpool comfortably dispatched the reigning European champions, who failed to really lay a glove on Arne Slot’s side.

And it appears as though Real Madrid are dealing with further issues even after the defeat at Anfield, after their team bus crashed into a lorry on the M40 motorway.

A video circulating on social media shows the coach, adorned with decals of all trophies the Spanish giants have previously won, stood still on the M40 after having crashed into the back of the lorry.

It is unclear yet as to whether anyone was hurt in the crash. However, it is another added headache for Real Madrid to deal with following on from their disappointing display at Anfield. It is likely the playing squad and staff flew back to Spain, with the bus then travelling separately,

Whilst they were without a number of key players, including Vinicius Junior, Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal, Rodrygo and Aurelien Tchouameni, the Spanish side looked by far and away a worse team than Liverpool, even with the likes of Kylian Mbappe leading their attack.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

‘We Know Who Deserved This’ – Vinicius Receives Widespread Support After Ballon d’Or Robbery

Vinicius Junior Told Ballon d'Or Triumph Would Be 'Biggest Crime In History'

The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony was expected to bring a moment of redemption for Real Madrid, especially after their tough loss to Barcelona in the recent El Clasico.

Many Madrid fans and the club itself saw the event as an opportunity for some positive recognition, with high hopes for Vinicius Jr. to claim the award for the best player in the world.

However, hours before the ceremony, it was revealed that Vinicius would not be receiving the prestigious honour.

In response, Real Madrid decided that no representative would attend the gala on his behalf, a decision that has intensified the disappointment among the club’s supporters.

Support for Vinicius

Real Madrid fans have expressed their frustration over the Ballon d’Or voting results, feeling Vinicius’ performances were deserving of greater recognition.

Notably, former Madrid star Toni Kroos stepped forward to show his support, posting two photos of himself with Vinicius on social media, accompanied by a message celebrating Vinicius as “The Best.”

Following Kroos’ lead, several of Vinicius’ teammates expressed their support on social media. Arda Guler posted a photo of himself embracing Vinicius, while teammates like Ferland Mendy and Rodrygo also shared images and messages of encouragement.

“And so our world goes on, we keep going. I love you,” said the Brazil forward about his teammate.

Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Federico Valverde joined the wave of support, with Valverde emphasising that no award could adequately represent Vinicius’ talent and contributions on the pitch.

“You don’t need that (the Ballon d’Or). You’re already the best,” said Camavinga.

“No one will take away what you have achieved. We all know that. They are not prepared for what you are going to give them,” wrote Tchouameni

Vinicius’ national teammates from Brazil showed solidarity as well, with players like Richarlison, Bruno Guimaraes, Douglas Luiz, Emerson Royal, Gabriel Magalhaes, Lucas Paqueta, and Serge Aurier sending him words of encouragement.

“We all know who really deserved to win this Ballon d’Or. We are all with you brother, we will do everything so that you can win that it. I love you. BEST IN THE WORLD. Nothing against Rodri but my congratulations,” wrote Douglas Luiz

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Rodri Becomes First Man City Player To Win Ballon d’Or; Vinicius Reacts

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been awarded the Ballon d’Or after a stellar season that saw him pick up silverware with both club and country.

Rodri was handed the award at a ceremony in Paris on Monday, organised by the French magazine France Football in collaboration with UEFA.

“A very special day, for me, my family and my country,” Rodri said.

“I understand that because I have no social media, people don’t know me much. I am just a normal guy. I enjoy the sport, I enjoy my profession. And I try to be a good person. I am a very calm person.”

The 28-year-old won his fourth straight Premier League with City in May as Pep Guardiola’s side held off Arsenal’s challenge, winning their last nine games to clinch the title. He is the first player from England’s top tier to be crowned since Cristiano Ronaldo won in 2008 during his first stint with Manchester United.

Rodri’s stiffest competition for the Ballon d’Or came from Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, who refused to travel to Paris for the ceremony after discovering that he would not take home the trophy. Jude Bellingham finished third in the voting.

Vinícius, 24, had been a leading contender to win the 2024 men’s prize after leading Madrid to a LaLiga and Champions League double last season, but sources told ESPN earlier on Monday that neither he nor his fellow Madrid nominees — eight in total across the various awards — would attend the event.

Madrid had been honoured earlier in the ceremony as the men’s team of the year, and Carlo Ancelotti received the coach of the year award, though no representatives of the last Champions League winners were present to accept it.

“I’ll do it 10x if needed. They are not ready,” Vini Jr. posted in Portuguese on X.

Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga made it clear what he thought of the vote, calling it “football politics.”

“FOOTBALL POLITICS X. My brother, you are the best player in the world and no award can say otherwise. Love you my bro,” the France international wrote on X along with a photo of him and Vinicius celebrating together.

The awards are based on voting by a panel of journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries.

Rodri was part of the Spain team that won Euro 2024, starting every game except the third group stage match against Albania, and claimed the player of the tournament prize.

He went a world-record 74 games unbeaten for club and country from March 2023 to May 2024, avoiding defeat (other than via penalties) until City’s loss to Manchester United in the FA Cup final.

Rodri becomes the second men’s player born in Spain to win the sport’s most prestigious individual prize, and the first since former Barcelona star Luis Suárez claimed it in 1960.

Real Madrid’s legendary striker Alfredo di Stefano won the award twice, in 1957 and 1959, though he was born in Argentina. The past four Ballons d’Or Féminin have been won by Spanish women (Alexia Putellas in 2021 and 2022 and Aitana Bonmatí in 2023 and 2024).

“Today is not a victory for me, it is for Spanish football, for so many players who have not won it and have deserved it, like [Andres] Iniesta, Xavi [Hernandez], Iker [Casillas], Sergio Busquets, so many others. It is for Spanish football and for the figure of the midfielder,” Rodri said on stage at the ceremony.

“Today many friends have written to me and have told me that football has won, for giving visibility to so many midfielders who have a job in the shadows and today it is coming to light.”

Rodri is likely to miss the rest of the 2024-25 campaign after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury during City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sept. 22. He collected the prize on crutches on Monday.