Super Eagles and Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman says his team is fully prepared for the UEFA Super Cup clash against Real Madrid, as La Dea aim to build on their recent European success and challenge the Spanish giants for another prestigious trophy.
Atalanta, who secured their first-ever European title with a resounding 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Europa League final, will face the reigning UEFA Champions League holders in Warsaw on Wednesday night.
The match promises to be an enthralling encounter, with Lookman eager to test himself against Carlo Ancelotti’s star-studded squad, which includes new signing Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Jr.
“These are the games you dream about as a child, and now the moment has come,” the Nigeria international was quoted by Tribal Football.
“We won the Europa League, and now we’re playing for another trophy. We can’t wait; we are preparing with obsessive attention. So yes, we will be ready!”
Lookman’s confidence comes on the heels of his historic hat trick in Atalanta’s UEFA Europa League final victory over Bayer Leverkusen, a performance that cemented his place in European football history, as he became the first player to score a hat-trick in the competition’s final, dramatically ending Bayer Leverkusen’s 51-match unbeaten run and earning Atalanta their first major title since 1963.
The 26-year-old is set to lead Atalanta’s charge as they aim to upset the Spanish giants.
Real Madrid, who have announced a formidable 24-man squad for the Super Cup, are fresh off their latest Champions League triumph and are determined to add another trophy to their illustrious cabinet.
Atalanta, however, are not intimidated, as Lookman emphasised the significance of the contest.
The winger is relishing the opportunity to go up against some of the world’s best players, saying, “We don’t need great motivation. We will face the greatest team in the world, and it’s an appointment with history.
“It’s an exciting chapter, an exciting opportunity for everyone.”
The Super Cup clash will also be a chance for Lookman to further establish himself as one of Africa’s top players.
His remarkable 2023/24 season, which saw him score 15 goals and provide eight assists across all competitions, has already put him in the conversation for the Africa Player of the Year Award, a title that his compatriot Victor Boniface, who plays for Leverkusen, is also likely to contend for.