Ademola Lookman scores on Everton debut against Manchester City but will one day be lining up for Barcelona or Real Madrid if he has his way
FORMER Charlton prodigy and new Premier League winger reveals all about his start to life on Merseyside
ADEMOLA LOOKMAN is a young man who knows what he wants and if he gets his way one day you will see him turning out for Barcelona or Real Madrid.
The new Everton winger, signed from Charlton for £11million last week, may have been starry eyed as he walked into the club’s Finch Park training base to see some of his idols.
But Lookman is on a mission to play right at the top and it will not be a bad start today as boss Ronald Koeman revealed he will be involved against Manchester City.
Asked what his ambitions were in his first major newspaper interview, the South Londoner said: “One day I want to win trophies. Of course I want to play at the highest level - whether it be in England or Spain, I want to be at the top.
“You have teams like Barcelona and Real Madrid.
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“As a kid, I dreamed of playing for one of those teams and I suppose Manchester United.”
This should not be mistaken for arrogance … it is just raw ambition.
And this is not a footballer without a brain.
Lookman – whose parents are Nigerian – achieved EIGHT A grades in his GCSEs … three of them stars.
And he even wants to get back into education to study psychology.
It was put to him that he must be a clever lad?
“Yeah, I am,” he laughed. “But I hope to further it. I want to get back into education.
“I want to do something around psychology. I want to see how people think. It is also something that is definitely beneficial to football.”
Lookman’s talent was instantly spotted by Charlton boss Karl Robinson, who nurtured Dele Alli at MK Dons.
And it was widely recognised that this superkid was the best outside the Premier League.
But Lookman is grateful for the help and advice he received from Robinson.
He said: “The gaffer! Brilliant.
“Because he’s young, he’s one of us if that makes any sense.
“He’s a very good manager who always put his arm around me and gave me information. He always helped me develop as a person and a player too. He always had time for me.
“I can’t speak highly enough of him because of what he has done with Dele Alli and Brendan Galloway as well.
“But as a Liverpool fan, he’s a bit annoyed I’ve come to Everton!
“He knew there was Everton interest and he had a conversation about it with me to clarify where my head was at.
“That conversation helped us to come close together in our relationship.”
While the deal was being thrashed out, Robinson took him out of the firing line at Charlton.
And Lookman admitted: “He knew that I was on the verge of a move and he protected me. I thank him for doing that because I don’t think there are very managers who would do that.”
Although he is far from overawed by the multi-million pound talent that surrounds him, Lookman admits it was unreal to meet his new team-mates for the first time.
He said: “It was amazing. Growing up, I watched most of them play on TV. To actually train with them and be part of the team, it’s amazing.
“Romelu Lukaku was a big hero of mine. He was amazing at finishing. Every shot he takes pretty much goes in.
“I also idolised Yannick Bolasie, Kevin Mirallas ,Ross Barkley, Gerard Deulofeu - pretty much all the attacking players because I’m an attacker and they were the ones I used to watch.
“I spoke to Rom on Thursday just to get insight into both of our lives.
“He was 16 when he was Anderlecht and someone I can definitely learn a lot from.
“Rom was just telling me about how it’s a big step up but I shouldn’t put any pressure on myself and just be natural.
“I must do what I have to do. I have to show people what I have to do.”
Lookman has two older sisters and remembers all the effort his family made to get him to and from football during his youth career.
All the family are thrilled he has now got his big chance.
But he admitted: “My mum is upset because she is not going to see her son as much but she understands my career is football and it is what I want to do.”
Lookman has the advantage of being toughened up by playing already League One football with Charlton against men rather than coming through a Premier League academy.
And any hatchet man defender can be warned against trying to intimidate Lookman or give him a few crunching tackles.
He said: “You just have to get up and keep going again.”