Nigerian international Ademola Lookman has been left disappointed with his manager’s comments after Atalanta bowed out of the UEFA Champions League.
The current CAF Footballer of the Year reacted to manager Gian Piero Gasperini’s public backlash following his missed penalty in their UEFA Champions League clash against Belgium side Club Brugge.
Lookman, who recently returned from injury, stepped up to take the crucial penalty but he eventually missed with Atalanta losing 3-1 on the night and exiting the competition with a 5-2 aggregate defeat.
Gasperini, in his post-match comments, lashed out at the Super Eagles star for taking the penalty which could have changed the complexion of the game.
“Ademola Lookman is one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen. He wanted to take the penalty after scoring a goal. He took the ball despite Retegui and De Ketelaere being available… I didn’t like what Lookman did.”
The 26-year-old forward has however taken to social media to speak about the situation, describing it as “disrespectful”.
“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 every day to help bring success to this club and to the incredible fans of Bergamo,” Lookman wrote.
The Super Eagles attacker also clarified that he did not take the penalty on his own accord but was instructed to do so by the designated taker.
“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,” he added.
Lookman has been one of Atalanta’s standout players top this season, scoring a hat-trick in the UEFA Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen to secure the club’s first-ever European title. He has 15 goals and 7 assists in 27 matches across all competitions.
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