Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman has hit back at manager Gian Piero Gasperini after being criticized for missing a penalty during the club’s UEFA Champions League play-off defeat to Club Brugge on Tuesday
Lookman, who was introduced in the second half, scored to reduce the deficit for Atalanta but later missed a penalty in the 62nd minute. Gasperini, visibly frustrated after the game, described the Nigerian international as “one of the worst penalty takers” he has ever seen and claimed he was not supposed to take the spot-kick.
“Lookman was not supposed to take that penalty, he is one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen,” Gasperini said after the game.
“He has a frankly terrible record even in training, he converts very few of them. Retegui and De Ketelaere were there, but Lookman in a moment of enthusiasm after scoring decided to take the ball and that was a gesture I did not appreciate at all.”
Responding in a statement on his Instagram page on Wednesday, Lookman expressed his disappointment at being publicly singled out, calling the remarks “deeply disrespectful.”
“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. 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,” he wrote.
Lookman further revealed that the designated penalty taker had instructed him to take the kick, and he stepped up in the moment to support the team.
“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,” he stated.
“Life’s about challenges and turning pain into power, which I’ll continue to do,” he added.
Atalanta crashed out of the Champions League following a 5-2 aggregate loss to Club Brugge, ending their hopes of progressing further in the competition.
