Atalanta manager, Gian Piero Gasperini has heaped praise on Ghanaian midfielder Ibrahim Sulemana, whose electric form has been key in the club’s recent surge, calling his goal-scoring rate “terrific” after yet another standout performance.
Sulemana, who turns 22 on Thursday, found the net again in Atalanta’s thrilling 3-2 comeback victory over Genoa, scoring in the 47th minute with a stunning strike. Controlling the ball deftly on his chest at the edge of the penalty box, he rifled a shot into the bottom right corner, after a spectacular goal against AS Roma just days earlier.
The back-to-back goals have not only earned Sulemana a regular starting berth but also the admiration of his coach, who didn’t hold back his delight, or self-deprecating humor, when speaking to reporters post-match.
“Well Sulemana, let me just reiterate that his coach clearly didn’t have a clue for a whole year,” Gasperini joked. “His scoring rate is terrific, even better than Retegui’s, so hat’s off to him. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.”
Sulemana’s rise has been meteoric in recent weeks, and with performances like these, he’s fast becoming a fan favorite in Bergamo and a serious asset for the Black Stars heading into the summer. With two goals in two games and growing confidence, the young midfielder’s form could not have come at a better time for both club and country.
