Atalanta are unwilling to sell any of their stars in the January transfer window, including Ademola Lookman, who is wanted by Liverpool.
According to Tuttosport newspaper, Premier League giants Liverpool have eyed Atalanta striker Lookman, but La Dea will not sell any of their stars in the winter transfer window.
Tuttosport newspaper claims that Atalanta have already ‘said no’ to a Liverpool request for the 27-year-old striker.
The Nigeria international was named the Best African Player of 2024 and has contributed to impressive results from the Nerazzurri.
Last season, he helped Atalanta win their first European trophy by scoring a hat-trick in the Europa League Final against Bayer Leverkusen.
Atalanta have won ten consecutive matches in Serie A and are the current table leader.
Lookman was in talks to join PSG last summer but eventually remained in Bergamo, where his contract expires in 2026.
Liverpool’s domestic rivals Manchester City have targeted another Atalanta star, Ederson, but La Dea will keep hold of the Brazilian until the end of the season.
A rare glimpse of Nigeria and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman, the newly decorated African soccer king by close confidants
Just like he had a defining moment on an extraordinary 2024 Europa Cup Final night in Dublin on May 24th with a stunning hat-trick which capitulated him to the top of European and, indeed, football world, Ademola Lookman yet again rode himself into the hearts of many on the night of December 16 in the Moroccan city of Marrakech. The Atalanta ‘wide forward’ wowed his audience at the Palais des Congrés as well as the global audience on the television with a captivating acceptance speech laced with patriotic fervour, after being crowned the 2024 African Footballer of the Year. Were his appearance and speech just a façade or the authentic Ademola Lookman? Two members of the Super Eagles’ inner circle, Patrick Pascal (Team Coordinator) and immediate past Team Media Officer of the men’s national senior team, Babafemi Raji, share a rare insight into the personae of the new African soccer King in an interesting conversation with Sports Editor, MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN…
Since his debut for the Super Eagles in March 2022, Ademola Lookman has shown that he is a player whose composure on and off the pitch sets him apart from his peers.
According to close confidants, Lookman’s calm demeanour and unique ability to remain level-headed, even under high-pressure situations on and outside the field of play, are second to none within the rank and file of the current Super Eagles.
Indeed, all of these came to the fore yet again on Monday night in the Moroccan city of Marrakech, where the 27-year-old Atalanta ‘wide forward’ was crowned the 2024 CAF Men’s Footballer of the Year.
Lookman, the London-born Nigerian who had some challenging times at Everton and RB Leipzig, won’t let the opportunity under the klieg light of the Palais des Congrés in Marrakech slip by without making a good impression, as he gave the world a glimpse of who he truly is.
“Ekale (Good evening), Nigeria, Mo nki gbogbo yin (Nigerians, I’m greeting all of you), E se; Mo dupe (thank you; I’m grateful),” the former England youth international, replenishment in his all-Nigeria’s national green colour Agbada (voluminous attire) with matching black embroidery, offered in his native Yoruba language, after being handed the continent’s highest individual’s prize by CAF President Patrice Motsepe and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
He continued: “First, I want to thank the Almighty God for all that he has been doing in my life. I want to thank the President, my teammates at both club and country; I want to thank them for their support and the love that they have given me.
“Today is a blessing to me, my family, my nation. To be recognised as the best player in Africa is something incredible and I’m extremely proud of this.
“Four years ago, my career felt down and fast forward four years after, I’m the best player in Africa.
“I want to say to all the young children and people watching this, don’t let your failures weigh you down to break your wings; but for a fact, turn your pains to your power and you begin to fly,” he added.
For many, ‘Mola, as Ademola Lookman is fondly called, came off the dais as a patriot and a well-focussed young man more than a footballer that he is.
But for members of the Super Eagles’ inner circle, the Mola we all saw in Marrakech is the essential Ademola Lookman – a man without airs.
“Mola is a very humble and respectful person, “ Babafemi Raji, the immediate past Team Media Officer of the Super Eagles, told NationSport. “He’s always willing to take up any task given and you can see that he’s always one of the first set of players to come to camp.
“What you see in Marrakech is all about ‘Mola; he’s just respectful like that. He’s a gentle person, always respectful. He’s also media friendly. Even if there are times when it’s not convenient for him to do media rounds, you always hear him say ‘baba, let’s reschedule; baba, I want to rest at this time but at this time I am free’. When he says this time, he’s always on time, he will even call you five or two minutes ahead of the scheduled time and ask where are you; and that’s the kind of person Ademola Lookman is.”
Born in Wandsworth on the 20th of October in 1997 and christened Ademola Lookman Olajade Alade Iyiola, the fast-paced and skilful winger with the ability to drift past defenders, attack the depth and can cover different positions in the attack who can play different positions offensively, started playing for Charlton Athletic, making his senior team debut in November 2015.
He reportedly joined Everton in January 2017 but was loaned out to RB Leipzig in January 2018 and kicked off his spell in Germany by scoring on his debut, which arrived in the away victory over Borussia Monchengladbach. He rounded off the season with five goals and four assists registered in 11 appearances and after another spell at Everton, he was signed again by RB Leipzig in the summer of 2019. He then returned to England on loan to play for the Premier League sides; Fulham first and then Leicester City en route to Atalanta. It was when he was sold to Atalanta for €9.35m plus bonuses that he truly flourished, working with coach Gian Piero Gasperini.
Yet, according to Babafemi, the seasoned broadcaster and CEO of Topmost Sport, stardom, fame and money have not in any way tainted the essential make up of ‘Mola, adding that it’s always there to see that the Atalanta star is not only level-headed but he is a refined ‘Omoluabi’ – a Yoruba term for a honourable, respectable and, above all, a man of integrity.
“What do we expect from someone like that?” Raji, in his usual smooth and glossy baritone voice, asked rhetorically. “His father is more than a father figure to him and he’s always around him (just as we saw them together in Marrakech), and it’s interesting to know that he was well brought up and very cultured too.
“Let me tell you a story and this happened times without number during our AFCON campaign in Cote d’Ivoire. He (Lookman’s father) was always coming around to our hotel even before our breakfast; but each time, you’ll see him prostrate to greet his father. He won’t bend down but prostrate flatly like a typical Yoruba man and that makes a huge impression on me.
“So, being respectful has been part and parcel of him.”
Babafemi further volunteered on Mola’s puritanical devotion to his trade, saying being crowned the African Footballer of the Year is a justification for his solid work ethics.
“On the pitch, he’s very productive just like every other player but he has other exceptional qualities: always willing to listen and ready to learn and if he’s not clear about anything, he will ask questions,” Babafemi further told NationSports.
“Right from the first time he joined the Super Eagles camp, he showed the temerity that he was ready to work his way to the top with the team.
“He’s not a forward type of person; he is not an extrovert at all but an introvert and a man of very few words.
“Even when he has to attend a press conference, he would ask: ‘baba, what should I expect and what do you think I should say?’ Not that he doesn’t have a mind of his own, because before he would answer a question, he would listen well before offering his comments and I think that’s really important.”
Yet on the strength of his speech in Marrakech, Babafemi is already predicting another career for ‘Mola whenever he quits the game that has now given him immense fame across the continent and beyond, adding that only few lads who had their foots firmly rooted on the ground could have come forth with such exponential message as he did.
“Of course, Mola can be a great motivational speaker after his retirement and I can see that happen,” predicted the self-styled Topmost Striker. “I say so because when he talks, he inspires people and I don’t think only about people of his generation, I think he inspires the older people as well.
“The fact is that he rarely talks, but when he does, you can see that they come with a lot of wisdom vibes.
“He is a direct opposite of the Gen-z of this world. In terms of wisdom, he’s way ahead of his peers.
“He is a good example to the younger ones and even the older ones too, and as far as I’m concerned age should not be a determinant factor to be a great motivational speaker. After all, they say that ‘what has the wisdom of Solomon to do with the age of a Methuselah?’”
A good dresser himself, Babafemi said he was so impressed about ‘Mola’s dress sense on Monday night in Marrakech and insisted that a good dress sense is a significant part of culture since it conveys a person’s identity and where they originated from.
“Of course, anyone who saw the way ‘Mola dressed on Monday night will know that he is indeed a cultured man,” Raji stated. “You would always know that he has respect for everyone around him too.
“I remember there was a time we were talking together with Calvin Bassey about having mutual respect for people and I think it’s just part of his DNA.
“If you want to confirm all I have said about ‘Mola, you can ask anybody that has worked around him – from the team coordinator to the team manager and to the coaches.
“He’s worked under three coaches since he started playing for the Super Eagles – from Cerezo (Austin Eguavoen) to Jose Peseiro and even George Finidi. “They will all have some good and positive things to say about ‘Mola.
“This is not about flattery, I’m just telling you what I know about him. In a few years that we have met; two or three years, even off the pitch when we chat, even if he misses your chat or your call, the first thing he would do is to apologise.
“I think God just looked at him and said, ‘I will crown your efforts and your dedication with the African Footballer of the Year’.
“That, I think, reflected in his speech and saying that ‘ ‘no matter how low you get, just don’t stay down. Even when life knocks you down, don’t stay down.’
“This, I believe, is the summary of his crowning glory on Monday night in Marrakech,” added Raji.
For Patrick Pascal, the chairman of Bauchi State Football Association, ‘Mola’s patriotic fervour has always been there for all to see right from the outset of his career with the Super Eagles.
“I’m not surprised that Ademola Lookman was declared the 2024 African Footballer of the Year,” Pascal, the Super Eagles’ Coordinator, equally told NationSport. “He’s the logical choice because he did his very best for both club and country and none of the other four contenders came near him.”
In the year under review, Lookman scored a hat-trick in the 2024 Europa League Final, giving Atalanta the trophy against Bayer Leverkusen.
By so doing, he became the first hat-trick scorer in a Europa League final, the first in a major European final since Jupp Heynckes in the 1975 UEFA Cup final second leg and the first in a single-match major European final since Pierino Prati in the 1969 European Cup final.
He was also named in the Europa League Team of the Year, contributing 27 goals and 12 assists between club and country in 2024.
Voted the 14th best player in the world in the Ballon d’Or, Lookman equally starred for the Super Eagles at the 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire where he scored three goals and made two assists in the seven games to lead the three-time African champions to an unexpected final where they lost 2-1 to the hosts, Cote d’Ivoire.
But he was the cynosure of all eyes on Monday night in Marrakech.
“Of course, I was not surprised by the way he comported himself in Marrakech with his dressing and his acceptance speech,” Pascal offered. “He was not putting up a show, rather that is a reflection of his attitude and personality.”
The urbane Pascal, who made name for himself on the Nigerian domestic football scene particularly in his heyday with Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan, said ‘Mola has always shown that he’s a well-brought up Yoruba son despite being born-and-bred in England.
“Despite being born in England, you’ll know that ‘Mola had proper home training and he was trained to love his country and the culture of his Yoruba race,” Pascal, the former Nigeria international, further said. “For him to choose to represent Nigeria after playing for England at youth level, speaks so much about the kind of upbringing he has.
“Look at the way he started his speech, who would not be proud of such a guy?
“He is someone that loves his country and I don’t want to think he was just trying to impress people on Monday night in Marrakech because if you’d ever had conversation with him, you know that he really carries Nigeria in his heart.”
Nevertheless, it’s Lookman’s way of life and humane disposition that have long made a huge impression on Pascal: “Lookman is just a very simple person; he’s just a very quiet person who hardly talks
“We got talking one day and do you know what coach Eguavoen said about Lookman? He said ‘if they put all the players in a room and lock them up, he would not be able to recognise the voice of ‘Mola because he rarely talks, unless it is necessary.’
“Of course, he relates and communicates with everybody very well, but he’s not a vocal person at all.”
He continued: “He’s one of the most disciplined players in the Super Eagles. He follows the programme of the team very well. I have not seen a day that maybe he opted out of training because something was disturbing him or he’s angry about something.
“Aside, I’m very impressed with his general attitude. ‘Mola doesn’t look down on anybody and he’s very respectful. He calls virtually everybody ‘Uncle’ and you understand what that means because he shows himself very respectful at all times.
“Also, he is always business-minded and you’ll always see him as a guy who has a mission with the way he conducts himself on and off the pitch.
“You heard what he said on Monday and that summed up the true definition of Ademola Lookman: respectful, patriotic, humane, kind and, above all, always wanting to achieve goals he has set for himself,” noted Pascal, who will hit a milestone 50th anniversary on December 24th.
• Ezeji predicts brighter future for African soccer king
By Morakinyo Abodunrin
The burgeoning status of Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has yet again been highlighted with former Atalanta midfielder, Massimo Donati, emphatically saying, the newly endowed African Footballer of the Year, is now unstoppable for obvious reasons.
The 27-year-old Lookman was on Monday bestowed with the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year in Morocco after a roller-coaster year that saw him scoring a stunning hat-trick in the Europa Cup Final to help Atalanta to their first continental title.
Apart from being voted the Europa League Final MVP, he was also listed in the tournament’s Best XI among other accolades including being adjudged the 14th best player at the 2014 Ballon d’Or in Paris.
In the on-going 2024-2025 campaign, Lookman has equally been decisive scoring so far an impressive eight goals across 13 matches in all competitions as Atalanta found their path to the top of Serie A.
Speaking on Lookman’s rising profile, Donati who also played for a clutches of top Italian sides including Milan, Sampdoria , Parma and Scottish side, Celtic Glasgow, has reportedly told Gazzetta Dello Sport , that having finally ‘gained awareness’ of his strengths, the new African soccer king remains unstoppable.
“Lookman is an incredible player,” Donati, the pundit turned football manager, reportedly told Gazzetta. “The biggest improvement he’s made is to gain awareness of his strengths. Once you realise that, nobody can stop you.”
Meanwhile, former Nigeria international Victor Ezeji has congratulated Lookman on his African Footballer of the Year award , adding the Atalanta forward has the capacity to retain the crown next time if he keeps firing on all cylinders.
“ This award (CAF Men’s Player of the Year) is personal and it was about what an individual has done in the year under review,” explained Ezeji, a two-time Africa Champions League winners with Enyimba.“ In Africa, Lookman was very outstanding and nobody could have taken that away from him and I say ‘ congratulations to Lookman’.
“There is no law that says you cannot win the African Footballer of the Year back-to-back and if he continues at the pace he’s going , he can win it back-to-back.”
“ Once again, Ademola Lookman. You made yourself, family and Nigeria proud.
“ May God continue to keep you out of injury because that is the most important thing for a footballer,” he concluded.
Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has congratulated Super Eagles and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman for winning the 2024 CAF Men’s African Player of the Year award.
Lookman triumphed over strong competition from Ivorian Simon Adingra, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams.
The Atalanta star won the award, following Victor Osimhen’s success in 2023.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, Adams praised Ademola Lookman, describing him as an “exemplary ambassador of Nigeria and the Yoruba race”
The Yoruba Generalissimo said: “I congratulate you on this huge achievement and recognition by Africa’s highest football authority. This will no doubt inspire younger generation to dream for greater glory.”
Adams commended Lookman for identifying with his roots by donning the Yoruba attire with beads, and beginning his address in Yoruba language.
“Ademola Lookman is a true son of Yorubaland. His attire during the ceremony and his address in Yoruba says much about his background. Let me seize this opportunity to congratulate his parents for a job-well done.
“I hope this open display of his Yorubaness will inspire others like him in the Diaspora to begin to identify with their heritage. We are a people rich in abiding culture and tradition with thousands years of history.
“Thank you for making Nigeria and indeed Yorubaland proud on a global stage. Again, I say a big congratulation to my brother, a true Omoluabi,” Iba Adams stated.
Still basking in the euphoria of his successful outing at the 2024 CAF Awards where he was feted as the Men’s Player of the Year, Super Eagles and Atalanta forward, Ademola Lookman, has admitted past difficult moments in his budding football career actually served as the impetus to arrive at the zenith of African football.
On Monday in the Moroccan city of Marrakech, Lookman was named the 2024 CAF African Player of the Year after a remarkable year for club and country.
He was the star for Atalanta with a stunning hat-trick as the Italian Serie A side clinched the Europa League title for the first time at the expense of Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen.
He was also named in the Europa League Team of the Year, contributing 27 goals and 12 assists between club and country in 2024 and deservedly made short-list for the 2024 Ballon d’Or award where he finished 14th .
But at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, he took away the biggest prize ahead of four other challengers including home boy, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi to become the seventh Nigerian to win the CAF Men’s Player of the Year awards.
The 27-year-old follows in the footsteps of compatriot Victor Osimhen, who claimed the award in 2023 as they became the first back-to-back Nigerian winners since Nwankwo Kanu (1996) and Victor Ikpeba (1997).
“It is an incredible achievement and an incredible moment,” Lookman told event organisers, CAF. “It is special to join a list of many great players who have achieved a lot in the game. They are legends.
“There are a lot of special moments that happened this year, I can speak about a lot of good moments. But also the bad moments, when you don’t want to do gym, but you end up doing that session and that gives you more strength. The difficult moments have given me that extra strength.”
“For us to be able to give inspiration to the young kids who want to be like us is the most important thing. If we can set a good example, they have good footsteps to follow.”
Lookman had a special message for the fans, who he thanked for their support.
“I am very appreciative of your love and care, and kind words in the bad moments also, not just the good moments. The people who show you love in the difficult moments are the people who you are most grateful too.”
Lookman has been in the form of his life in 2024, helping turn his Italian Serie A side Atalanta into title contenders and taking them to a UEFA Europa League trophy win, a first major piece of silverware for the club in 61 years.
He scored a hat-trick in the decider as Atalanta became the only team in the 2023-24 campaign to inflict a defeat on German Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen as the forward provided one of the great final displays in European football history.
Lookman also helped Nigeria to the final of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023, where they lost to the hosts. His displays, and three goals, did not go unnoticed as he was named in the Team of the Tournament
Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman yesterday won the CAF African Player of the Year for the first time ever in the Moroccan city of Marrakech, succeeding his compatriot Victor Osimhen, who was the recipient of the award last year, Nation Sports reports.
Lookman has been consistent for both club and country in the year under review.
The 27-year-old who was the only African nominated for the Ballon D’Or becomes the sixth Nigerian to win the prestigious award after Emmanuel Amuneke, Rashidi Yekini, Nwankwo Kanu (twice), Victor Ikpeba, and Victor Osimhen.
His remarkable journey in 2024 saw him fend off stiff competition from Moroccan full-back Achraf Hakimi, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Ivorian Simon Adingra, and Ronwen Williams from South Africa.
The Atalanta winger was the favourites for the award after his hat trick fired Atalanta to the Europa League title (their first major honour since 1963), defeating Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 to end Bayer Leverkusen’s 51-match unbeaten streak in the process in Dublin last May.
The Super Eagles winger was also Nigeria’s key creative force at the African Cup of Nations Cup in Cote d’Ivoire earlier this year, where he scored three goals and made two assists in the seven games he played, inspiring the three-time African champions to an unexpected final where they lost 2-1 to the hosts.
He was also named in CAF 2024 FIFPro Men’s Best XI alongside his compatriot Victor Osimhen. The duo joins a strong attack that also has Egypt and Liverpool striker Mo Salah.
Also on the night, Super Falcons star, Chiamaka Nnadozie, retained the CAF Goalkeeper of the Year award she first won the prize last year.
Her heroics in goal ensured the Falcons returned to the Olympics after a 16-year absence, and also her French club, Paris FC, featured in the group stage of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
The Super Falcons also won the prestigious Women’s National Team of the Year award.
ALL THE AWARD WINNERS:
Men’s Player of the Year: Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
Women’s Player of the Year: Barbra Banda (Zambia)
Men’s Coach of the Year: Emerse Faé (Côte d’Ivoire)
Women’s Coach of the Year: Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe; Moroccan)
Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Ronwen Williams (South Africa)
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria)
Men’s Interclub Player of the Year: Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns/South Africa)
Women’s Interclub Player of the Year: Sanâa Mssoudy (AS FAR/Morocco)
Men’s Young Player of the Year: Lamine Camara (Senegal)
Women’s Young Player of the Year: Doha El Madani (AS FAR/Morocco)
Men’s National Team of the Year: Côte d’Ivoire
Women’s National Team of the Year: Super Falcons of Nigeria
Men’s Club of the Year: Al Ahly (Egypt)
Women’s Club of the Year:TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
Goal of the Year: Mabululu (Goal for Angola against Namibia)
Nigeria international striker, Ademola Lookman , said that it was an incredible feeling to be recognised as the best player in Africa after being named last night as the recipient of the prestigious 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year.
The event held at the imposing Palais des Congrés in the Moroccan city of Marrakech, saw the 27-year-old Atalanta forward fend off stiff challenge from the quartet of Moroccan Achraf Hakimi, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Ivorian Simon Adingra, and Ronwen Williams from South Africa.
“Ekale (Good evening); Nigeria, Mo nki gbogbo yin (Nigerians, I’m greeting all of you) , E se ; Mo dupe (thank you; I’m grateful),” the 27-year-old former England youth international, replenishing in his all-green and black embroidered agbada (voluminous attire), began in his native Yoruba language, after being handed the continent’s highest individual prize by CAF President Patrice Motsepe and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
He continued: “ First, I want to thank the Almighty God for all that he has been doing in my life . I want to thank the President, my teammates at both club and country ; I want to thank them for their support and the love that they have given me.
“ Today is a blessing to me , my family , my nation . To be recognised as the best player in Africa is something incredible and I’m extremely proud of this.
“”Four years ago, my career felt down (to play for Nigeria) and fast forward four years after, I’m the best player in Africa.
“I want to say to all the young children and people watching this , don’t let your failures weigh you down to break your wings but for a fact, turn your pains to your power and you begin to fly ,” he added.
The 2024 CAF Awards, held at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco, celebrated the continent’s footballing excellence with a star-studded ceremony.
Among the standout winners was Ademola Lookman, who was named the CAF African Footballer of the Year following a stellar season for both Atalanta and the Nigerian national team.
The event also recognized other exceptional athletes, teams, and coaches who have made significant contributions to African football over the past year. From thrilling individual performances to team triumphs, the awards highlighted the immense talent and passion driving the sport across the continent.
Here is the full list of winners at the 2024 CAF Awards.
Super Eagles and Atalanta forward, Ademola Lookman, has been named the 2024 CAF African Footballer of the Year.
The 27-year-old secured the prestigious award at the CAF Awards ceremony held at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday.
Lookman triumphed over stiff competition from Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/PSG), Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast/Brighton), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea/Borussia Dortmund), and Ronwen Williams (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns) to claim the coveted title.
Ademola Lookman’s victory adds him to the distinguished list of Nigerian footballers who have won the prestigious CAF Award, joining legends such as Rashidi Yekini (1993), Emmanuel Amuneke (1994), Nwankwo Kanu (1996 and 1999), Victor Ikpeba (1997), and Victor Osimhen (2023). Lookman’s achievement marks Nigeria’s sixth win in the award’s history, as he follows Osimhen, the 2023 recipient.
Lookman enjoyed a stellar 2023/2024 season, impressing both for club and country.
He made headlines with a sensational hat-trick for Atalanta in the Europa League final, solidifying his place among Europe’s elite forwards.
On the international stage, he was a key figure in the Super Eagles’ runner-up finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire, scoring three goals during the tournament.
This season, Lookman has continued his exceptional form, netting 12 goals and providing five assists in 18 appearances across all competitions for Atalanta.
His remarkable performances also included a vital goal against UEFA Champions League giants Real Madrid, further showcasing his talent on the biggest stages.
