African Footballer of the Year Ademola Lookman has broken his silence following harsh criticism from Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini after the team’s Champions League elimination to Club Brugge. In an emotional statement released on Wednesday, Lookman revealed that he was instructed by the designated penalty taker to take the spot-kick, which he subsequently missed in the 3-1 defeat.
Gasperini had publicly criticized Lookman after the match, calling him “one of the worst penalty-takers I’ve ever seen” when his effort was saved by former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. The manager also claimed that Lookman took the ball despite other players being available to take the penalty.
However, Lookman’s statement contradicted Gasperini’s account. “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 wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The Nigerian forward, who had missed Atalanta’s previous six matches due to a knee injury, made an immediate impact after coming on at halftime with his side already trailing 3-0. He scored within 42 seconds of his introduction, giving the Italian side hope of a comeback. However, his missed penalty in the 61st minute drew sharp criticism from Gasperini, sparking widespread backlash from fans and pundits alike.
In his statement, Lookman expressed his disappointment at being singled out by his manager. “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,” he wrote. “Being singled out in the manner I have been not only hurt 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 also hinted at other challenges he has faced during his time at the club, which he has chosen not to disclose publicly. “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.”
Gasperini’s comments have drawn criticism from fans and journalists, who pointed out the manager’s apparent double standards. While Lookman was publicly chastised for his missed penalty, designated penalty taker Mateo Retegui’s crucial misses this season and captain Rafael Toloi’s red card in the same match were not met with similar criticism.
Paris-based Nigerian journalist Ojora Babatunde questioned Gasperini’s approach, writing on X, “When your coach, who’s supposed to shield and protect you from external criticism, starts criticizing you openly, then something is wrong.”
Nigerian sports journalist Pooja also defended Lookman, highlighting his contributions to the team. “A win in seven games, struggling without him, and he returned from injury, scored a goal after 42 seconds, and missed a penalty that has happened to the biggest players in the world,” she wrote. “Look at the nonsense Atalanta’s coach is saying about Ademola Lookman to the media. Someone who won him his first European trophy after years as a coach.”
The criticism appears particularly unwarranted given Lookman’s exceptional penalty record last season, where he converted all three of his spot-kicks – the best conversion rate at the club, ahead of Teun Koopmeiners (two from four) and Luis Muriel (one from one).
As the fallout continues, Lookman’s statement underscores the emotional toll of public criticism and his commitment to the team, even in the face of adversity.