AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori has revealed that Ademola Lookman is among the toughest opponents he has faced in Serie A, admitting he is glad the Nigerian forward did not join Inter Milan last summer, Sports Extra reports.
The Nigeria international was close to joining the Nerazzurri last summer, but Atalanta refused to sell him to a domestic rival for less than €50m.
Lookman spent the first part of the campaign in Bergamo before joining Atletico Madrid in the January transfer window, where he has contributed four goals and three assists in 10 games across all competitions.
His impact has also helped Atletico reach the final of this year’s Copa del Rey, where they will face Real Sociedad at Seville’s La Cartuja Stadium on April 18.
In an interview with The Athletic, Tomori listed Lookman among the best attackers he has faced during his five-year stay at San Siro.
“There are a few. Dybala — he plays in spaces that you don’t want him to get into. Lautaro Martinez, because his movement is so good.
“Ademola Lookman, maybe because I know him, but I always find it difficult to play against him because he’s always on the move,” the defender said.
Tomori, who is friends with Lookman off the pitch, revealed he spoke to the forward after his collapsed move to Inter.
“I spoke to him when he stayed [at Atalanta], and I said, ‘If you went to Inter, we wouldn’t have been friends anymore,’” the English defender said with a smile.
The 28-year-old defender, who chose to represent England ahead of Nigeria, also rated Lookman’s national teammate and 2023 African Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen, highly.
“Osimhen is just relentless — he does not stop running for 90 minutes,” he added.
After initially arriving on loan, Tomori has made more than 200 appearances in five years with Milan.