The 27-year-old forward, Ademola Lookman, expressed his sadness over the situation he is facing with his team, Atalanta, after missing a penalty in an important match. Despite having taken responsibility for executing it, he felt exposed and publicly questioned by his coach, Gian Piero Gasperini.
In his statements, Lookman lamented feeling hurt and disrespected after the incident, despite giving his best every day to contribute to the club's success and its fans. The Nigerian player also revealed that he has gone through difficult moments within the team, sometimes opting for silence to maintain group stability.
Atalanta's elimination in the preliminary round of the Champions League caused a strong conflict between Gasperini and Lookman. The coach openly criticized the forward's performance in the penalty shootout, describing him as one of the worst takers he has seen, and pointing out that other teammates had better records in that aspect of the game.
In response to Gasperini's statements, Lookman decided to reply through his social media, expressing his discontent with the coach's attitude. Despite the controversy, the forward remains a key player in Atalanta's scheme, which is now focusing its efforts on Serie A after being eliminated from the Champions League.
With 15 goals in 28 matches this season, Lookman will seek to reconnect with his best version to continue contributing to the Bergamo side, which is positioned third in the Italian league and is fighting to stay in the title race.
