Ademola Lookman hits back at 'deeply disrespectful' Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini after 'worst penalty taker' jibe
By Jonny Bray
Updated 19/02/2025 at 14:32 GMT
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Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman has hit back at his manager Gian Piero Gasperini after he was publicly criticised for taking and missing a penalty in the club's UEFA Champions League exit to Club Brugge on Tuesday. They fell to a 5-2 aggregate defeat after losing 3-1 at the Gewiss Stadium on Tuesday night. Lookman has been one of the Serie A side's star players since arriving in Italy in 2022.
Drama as Lookman's penalty saved by Mignolet after lengthy VAR check
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Ademola Lookman has labelled Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini’s criticism of his penalty technique "deeply disrespectful" in a scathing post on social media.
The Serie A side were dumped out of the UEFA Champions League by Club Brugge after a shock 5-2 aggregate defeat in the play-offs.
Atalanta lost 2-1 away from home in the first leg before falling to a 3-1 defeat at the Gewiss Stadium on Tuesday night.
Lookman scored his side's only goal in the 46th minute of the second leg, but his penalty kick later in the match was saved by Simon Mignolet.
Gasperini criticised the former Everton and Fulham forward's penalty technique after the match, suggesting that he demanded to take the spot kick ahead of nominated takers Mateo Retegui and Charles De Ketelaere.
"Lookman was not supposed to take that penalty," the Atalanta manager said.
"He is one of the worst penalty-takers I’ve ever seen. He has a frankly terrible record. Even in training, he converts very few of them.
"Retegui and De Ketelaere were there, but in a moment of enthusiasm after scoring, Lookman decided to take the ball and that was a gesture I did not appreciate at all."
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Highlights: Brugge produce historic performance in Bergamo to knock out Atalanta
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The 27-year-old Nigeria international forward has been one of Atalanta's star players since arriving at the club in 2022, scoring a hat-trick in the final of last season's UEFA Europa League before being included on the shortlist for the 2024 Ballon d'Or.
He responded to Gasperini by insisting that the designated penalty taker instructed him to take it.
"It saddens me on a day like this to have to write this statement - most of all because of what we have achieved together as a team and as a city," Lookman wrote on Instagram.
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"Being singled out in the manner I have been not only hurts but feels deeply disrespectful, not least because of the immense hard work and commitment I have always put in each and every day to help bring success to this club and to the incredible fans of Bergamo.
"In truth, I have dealt with many difficult moments during my time here - the majority of which I have never spoken about because in my opinion the team must always be protected and must come first. This makes what happened last night even more hurtful.
"Along with our incredible fans, we as a team are hurting too with last night's result. During the match the designated penalty taker instructed me to take the penalty; and to support the team I took responsibility in the moment to do so.
"Life's about challenges and turning pain into power which I'll continue to do."
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