Football fans have taken to social media to express their outrage over Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini’s recent comments about forward Ademola Lookman.
The backlash follows Gasperini’s criticism of Lookman’s missed penalty in their 3-1 Champions League defeat to Club Brugge, which resulted in Atalanta’s elimination from the tournament.
In the post-match press conference, Gasperini labeled Lookman as “one of the worst penalty takers” he had ever seen, stating that the Nigerian forward was not supposed to take the penalty and criticizing his record even in training.
Fans quickly rallied behind Lookman, flooding Atalanta’s official Facebook page with demands for Gasperini to issue a public apology.
Many pointed out Lookman’s crucial contributions to the club, especially his heroics in the Coppa Italia final, which secured Atalanta’s first major trophy in 61 years.
“Ademola Lookman is being disrespected by Atalanta after helping them win their first trophy in decades. Why do Italian clubs treat their heroes with so much disrespect?” asked Komslink Vlog, reflecting the frustration of many supporters.
Others accused Gasperini of selective criticism, highlighting that another Atalanta player, Mateo Retegui, had missed a penalty in a previous Champions League match against Arsenal but did not receive similar public condemnation.
Sun Shine did not hold back, “Retegui missed his penalty against Arsenal that cost you qualification, yet you don’t blame him. But this average coach is blaming a player who didn’t even play in the first leg, came on from injury, and still managed to score. You didn’t blame your foolishness that led to conceding five goals against Brugge. Apologize to Lookman!”
Some fans went further, warning that Gasperini’s refusal to take responsibility could cost him their support. “Incompetent coach with a blame game for his team’s loss! Apologize to Lookman; otherwise, you will lose our collective support for Atalanta BC,” wrote Daniel Chinaemerem Danstar.
Another fan, Olorun Lose, criticized Gasperini for deflecting blame instead of acknowledging his own tactical failures. “It’s disappointing to see a coach blame his players for his own lack of coaching skills. He needs to apologize and take ownership of his mistakes.”
Meanwhile, Emcee Dotman pointed out that Gasperini’s harsh words were factually incorrect. “I just knew Lookman wouldn’t do such without an explanation. Even his penalty stats contradict the coach’s claim of him being ‘the worst penalty taker ever.’ Yesterday’s penalty was only his second miss in his entire playing career.”
In response to the Gasperini’s criticism, Lookman released a statement on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, expressing his disappointment:
“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.
“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 …”
Lookman further clarified that during the match, the designated penalty taker had instructed him to take the penalty, and he accepted the responsibility to support the team. He emphasized his dedication to turning challenges into opportunities for growth.
As the situation develops, supporters continue to voice their support for the African Footballer of the Year and await a response from Gasperini and the club’s management.
