Napoli Warned Against Lookman Pursuit, Advised to Prioritize Zaccagni and Ndoye
Despite a stellar 2024-25 season with Atalanta, Nigeria international Ademola Lookman has been cautioned against as a priority signing for Serie A champions Napoli. Italian football expert Marcelo Altamura has advised the club to instead focus their efforts on securing Mattia Zaccagni and Dan Ndoye.
Lookman has been heavily linked with a move to Napoli following his impressive performance last season. However, Altamura, speaking to 1 Station Radio (via Area Napoli), expressed concerns about the Nigerian forward’s tactical discipline and team integration.
“I would probably choose the Zaccagni–Ndoye pairing, and I’ll tell you why. They are both strong and reliable players,” Altamura stated. He went on to elaborate on his preference for Ndoye: “Ndoye, on the other hand, is a player I have always liked: explosive, very technical, but also disciplined. He is not one of those ‘anarchic’ talents like Lookman, who scores a gem of a goal but then doesn’t follow the instructions.”
Altamura concluded, “In short, if I could choose, I would undoubtedly opt for the two of them.”
Lookman certainly had a prolific season, scoring 15 goals and providing 5 assists across 31 Serie A appearances for Atalanta. This strong statistical output underscores his offensive capabilities, but Altamura’s comments highlight a perceived trade-off between individual brilliance and tactical adherence in his assessment of potential Napoli targets.
