Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has disclosed that French Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain tried to sign Ademola Lookman in the summer.

The Italian tactician revealed this after the Nigerian international finished 14th in the 2024 Ballon d'Or ranking released by France Football on Monday, October 28.

Lookman, 27, was the only African footballer to make the list of 30 players shortlisted for the coveted prize following his stellar campaign with Atalanta last season.

He guided Atalanta to their first-ever European title after scoring a historic hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final.

On the international stage, the former Everton man helped the Super Eagles reach the final of the 2023 African Cup of Nations, scoring three crucial goals in the knockout stages.

Speaking after the ceremony, Gasperini hinted at the possibility of PSG trying to lure Lookman to the Parc des Princes when the transfer window opens in January.

“Lookman tempted in the summer by PSG? No, it was not a good moment. And who knows, maybe certain hypotheses will recur, hopefully not in January. But in the meantime, now, it is only important that he is ‘inside’ the team.”