Celtic coach, Brendan Rodgers has heaped praises on Atalanta’s Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman, extolling the winger’s consistent brilliance both on and off the pitch.

Rodgers and Lookman worked together during their time at Leicester City, and in his UCL presser, the Coach reflected fondly on the Nigerian star’s professionalism.

Ademola Lookman fights for the ball with Celtic’s Auston Trusty. (Photo by ISABELLA BONOTTO/AFP via Getty Images)

Lookman has been in stellar form for Atalanta, playing a key role in the club’s Europa League success, including scoring a hat-trick in the final.

So far this season, he has recorded three goals and three assists in eight games, maintaining his impact in both domestic and European competitions.

“He’s an absolutely brilliant young player. We stayed in contact and when I was at Leicester, we wanted to bring in another winger and inquired about his availability when he was at Red Bull,” Rodgers explained.

“He came in and he was absolutely brilliant for me in that season, he was there, he scored some outstanding goals. I remember a great individual goal against Liverpool.”

“When he came to Leicester, you could see everything he was. He leads his life in the right way. Everything is geared towards being the best he can be.”

Rodgers also spoke about Lookman’s impressive development, particularly his performances in last season’s Europa League.

“Watching him in that Europa League final, the goals he scored were not by accident. He’s so balanced. He can shoot up his right foot the same as his left foot.

“He’s an absolutely incredible young professional. To see him score the hat-trick in the final last year was amazing.”