From Charlton to here: Atalanta’s hat-trick hero Lookman always believed

It has been a difficult journey for the London-born forward who plays his international football for Nigeria.

Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman celebrates with the match ball after scoring a hat-trick in the Europa League final (Brian Lawless/PA)

Ademola Lookman reflected on his Europa League final heroics by insisting he always imagined starring on such a stage when starting his career at Charlton.

Lookman became the first player to score a final hat-trick in the competition as Atalanta beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 to inflict a first defeat of the season on the Bundesliga champions.