Ademola Lookman has addressed the public criticism from Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini following his missed penalty in their 3-1 defeat to Club Brugge, which saw them exit the Champions League with a 5-2 aggregate loss.
Gasperini did not hold back in his post-match comments, calling Lookman "one of the worst penalty takers" he has encountered. The coach expressed frustration that the Nigerian forward took the spot-kick instead of the designated takers, Charles De Ketelaere or Mateo Retegui. "Lookman was not supposed to take that penalty... He has a frankly terrible record even in training," Gasperini remarked.
In response, Lookman issued a statement expressing his disappointment over the way he was singled out. He clarified that he took the penalty after receiving instructions from the designated taker during the match. "Being singled out in the manner I have been not only hurts but feels deeply disrespectful... 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," Lookman stated.
This public exchange has shed light on internal tensions at Atalanta following their Champions League elimination.
Read his statement below...
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