Former England and Liverpool striker Peter Crouch has made a bold statement about Ademola Lookman, suggesting that the Atalanta forward could have played for England instead of Nigeria if he had been more patient. This comment has sparked a wave of discussion across social media platforms.
Crouch’s comments come after Lookman’s stunning hat-trick in the UEFA Europa League final, where Atalanta shocked an undefeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-0. The 26-year-old winger’s performance was nothing short of spectacular, with Crouch noting that Lookman’s journey to success has been one of perseverance and determination.
“If Ademola Lookman had been patient, he would have played for England instead of Nigeria,” Crouch said. “He could easily have played for England like his U20 teammates if he was patient.”
Lookman, who was born in England to Nigerian parents, chose to represent Nigeria in 2021. This decision seemed to have paid off after his outstanding display at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast earlier this year, scoring three times for the Super Eagles.
However, Crouch believes that Lookman’s impatience led him to miss the golden opportunity to play for England. “Someone like Lookman, who has been around, a footballing nomad at times, someone who’s been Sunday league, to Charlton, to Fulham on loan, Leicester, RB Leipzig, he’s gone around the houses to get to the moment where he’s found a home today and scored a hat-trick in a European cup final,” Crouch told TNT Sport.
The comments have sparked a variety of reactions on social media, with some users questioning the validity of Crouch’s statement and others agreeing with his perspective. Despite the controversy, there’s no denying Lookman’s impressive performance in the Europa League final and his significant contribution to Atalanta’s victory.
