Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini has stated that he did not intend to offend Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman with his remarks following their UEFA Champions League loss to Club Brugge.
Lookman, who had just returned from an injury, made an immediate impact by scoring after being introduced into the game. However, he later missed a crucial penalty, which led to frustration from Gasperini. Atalanta eventually suffered a 5-2 aggregate defeat, ending their Champions League campaign.
After the match, Gasperini did not hold back his criticism and made a strong remark, calling Lookman the worst penalty taker he had ever seen. His statement quickly sparked reactions, with many interpreting it as harsh, especially given Lookman’s recent achievements, including being named Africa’s best footballer.
Lookman reportedly felt disrespected by the comment, prompting Gasperini to clarify his words. He insisted that his intention was not to offend the player but rather to push him to improve.
“Lookman felt offended, but I didn’t want to offend anyone. He entered with fantastic approach against Club Brugge.
“If he starts training to improve on penalties… with his exceptional skills, Ademola can become our first penalty taker,” Gasperini said.
His response suggests that he still values Lookman as an important part of the team and sees potential in him despite the missed penalty.
Atalanta remains focused on their Serie A campaign, where they currently sit in third place. They are preparing for their upcoming league match against Empoli on Sunday as they aim to secure a strong finish in the Italian top flight.
