Atalanta striker Ademola Lookman has slammed his own manager for describing him as ‘one of the worst penalty takers’ he had ever seen after the side’s shock Champions League exit.
The reigning African Footballer of the Year, who was the match winner for the Bergamo club in last season’s Europa League final, labelled Gian Piero Gasperini’s comments as ‘deeply disrespectful’ and ‘hurtful’.
Belgian side Club Brugge stunned Atalanta 3-1 in the second leg of their play-off tie to dump the Italian side out with a 5-2 aggregate win and reach the last 16.
Lookman pulled back one goal for Atalanta when they were 3-0 down. But the Nigerian, who has scored 15 times this season, had a penalty saved as they crashed out, after which Gasperini said Lookman was not supposed to take the penalty.
In response to the shock comments, which have plunged the club into civil war, Lookman said Gasperini had been ‘deeply disrespectful’.
‘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,’ Lookman wrote on Instagram.
Ademola Lookman has labelled his manager Gian Piero Gasperini’s comments ‘deeply disrespectful’ and ‘hurtful’
The Italian said his star striker was him as ‘one of the worst penalty takers’ he had ever seen
Former Liverpool stopper Simon Mignolet played a crucial role in Club Brugge progress to the last 16
‘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.’
Gasperini said Lookman has a ‘terrible record even in training’, adding that Mateo Retegui and Charles De Ketelaere were better options to take the spot kick.
‘Lookman is one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen,’ said the veteran manager.
‘He wanted to take the penalty after scoring a goal, he took the ball despite (Mateo) Retegui and (Charles) De Keteleare available to take it… I didn’t like what Lookman did.
‘Lookman wasn’t supposed to take the penalty. Even in training he doesn’t have a good rate of scoring from the spot.’
Retegui is Atalanta’s regular penalty taker, having converted two of his three spot-kicks in Serie A this campaign, but Lookman has also taken and scored one.
Lookman was Atalanta’s hero last season when they won the Europa League, netting a hat-trick in the final when they beat Bayer Leverkusen who had been undefeated all season.
Atalanta’s next match is a trip to Empoli in Serie A on Sunday. It remains to be seen whether Lookman, a former Leicester and Fulham star, will be included in the squad following the public fallout with his manager.