The relationship between Ademola Lookman and Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini seems as fragile as ever following Tuesday’s loss to Club Brugge in the Champions League, but the tense situation dates back further than the Niegrian’s missed penalty against the Beligains.
Here’s why it’s all gone wrong.
Lookman-Gasperini rift: PSG’s summer interest
The story effectively dates back to the summer. Lookman was coming back in for pre-season training as the hero of Atalanta’s Europa League success a few weeks earlier, having scored an historic hat-trick to send La Dea to a 3-0 victory over the then-undefeated Bayer Leverkusen.
Having recently achieved star status, Lookman was reportedly approached by Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, which left Atalanta angry because the Parisians decided to talk to the player first, before they spoke to the club.
Atalanta were reluctant to let their star forward go, particularly as they had been anticipating Teun Koopmeiners’s €50m sale to Juventus, which went through at the end of the transfer window.
Lookman had reportedly agreed personal terms with PSG, and had asked to be left out of the team at the start of the season while the transfer window was still open and while talks were still ongoing.
Atalanta had reportedly requested a fee in the region of €40m to sell Lookman to PSG, but in the end, a move to the Parc des Princes never materialised.
Venezia sub and snub
So, Lookman stayed on with Atalanta, where he has a contract that runs until the summer of 2026.
He missed the first three Serie A matches of the season, but marked his return with a goal and an assist in the 3-2 win over Fiorentina, and then another goal in a 3-2 loss to Como in the following game.
There was a bit of a rift between Lookman and Gasperini in October as well, when the Nigerian was taken off at half-time in a league match against Venezia, with the coach suggesting that he was struggling.
Lookman responded with two goals and two assists in an hour-long appearance against Hellas Verona the following weekend.
The situation was so tense, though, that co-owner Stephen Pagliuca flew in to Italy from the United States to have talks with Lookman individually in an attempt to smooth things over.
Brugge penalty fiasco
Then came the exit from the Champions League on Tuesday night. Lookman scored Atalanta’s first of the game immediately after coming on at half-time, but later stepped up to take the penalty, despite not being the designated taker, and was unable to find the back of the net.
Gasperini was furious with the missed penalty, calling Lookman ‘one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen’ in the process.
Those comments have not pleased the Nigerian, who has released a statement confirming that he feels ‘deeply’ disrespected by the ‘hurtful’ comments.
Atalanta should trade Lookman to Inter for Mkhitarian and Taremi.
This is why their players never reach their full potential. They have half a good season and they turn into the archetypal big time Charlie. We saw that with Victor in Napoli also. And that’s why their okocha was a ‘legend’ at the mighty bolton wanderers. They might have ability but their attitude is always off.
@Rosario. That is because “their” players understand their Value, have self pride and cognizant of the fact that respect is reciprocal. Therefore would not cower or suffer insult from anyone without appropriate response.
Missing a penalty kick is NOT a crime and if that is what it takes for you as a fan or a coach to disrespect a player that puts everything on the line for the team, then you do not deserve that player.
You cannot expect loyalty if you are not capable of giving it . That is the reason the two clubs in question would always remain mediocre
@Steve
Gasperini was not angry he missed the pen. He’s furious because he took it off the regular taker. If you take a pen off the designated taker and you miss, you are going to get heat.
Gasperini has also given a lot to Lookman. This was some who never hit double figures for goals in his career before Atalanta. So respect goes both ways.
Two medium type ‘Charlie’ Italian clubs disrespecting two established Afrcan Footballers of the Year.
Established ‘African footballers of the year’ 😂 As if that really means anything in the wider global footballing context. Lookman was on the scrapheap when the Italians rescued him.
@Steve.
Atalanta are better than anything Nigeria have ever produced. ‘Understand their value’ 😂 Lookman couldn’t make it at Everton and Fulham ffs.
@Rosario: Possibly, before you were born, Nigerian players have been doing grate in Europe. You can consult your father, I am sure he should be able to enlighten you, what players like Kanu Nwakwo, Finidi George and Mikel Obi achieved in Europe. Lookman is not the first player from Nigeria to go that far in Europe, though he gave Atalanta what they never achieved before. For you, don’t take it hard on yourself. Embrace peace. One luv