Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has clarified that he did not intend to offend Ademola Lookman following his comments about his missed penalty in the 3-1 Champions League defeat by Club Brugge in midweek, Afrosport reports.
Lookman came off the bench in the second half after returning from a knee injury and scored a consolation goal after Le Dea were 3-0 down at the break.
He had a goal ruled out for offside before missing a penalty that could have made the game 3-2 and 5-3 on aggregate, still in Brugge’s favour. The Belgians ultimately won 5-2 on aggregate and progressed to the round of 16.
Gasperini however lashed out at Lookman for the penalty miss, saying it was the worst he has ever seen to which the reigning African Player of the Year responded by saying he was hurt and disrespected by those comments.
Responding to the former Everton player’s remarks ahead of Atalanta’s Serie A trip to Empoli, Gasperini doubled down on his position about the matter.
“He had an extraordinary impact. My words were never meant to be offensive,” he said per Football Italia.
“…I would have liked to see a great player like him [Lookman] make a gesture toward [Charles] De Ketelaere, saying, ‘Come on, take the ball, put it in.’
“He could become a penalty taker, adding another scoring ability. But I almost feel like there’s a narrative being pushed that Atalanta are in chaos when the reality is quite different.
“I always speak in front of the whole team, this has never even been an issue within the club.
“The player felt offended, but I never intended to offend anyone. In the end, I think it turned out well because there was no unnecessary drama.
“…Lookman came on against Brugge in an extraordinary way, and his gesture, even if generous, doesn’t change my opinion.”
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The fallout from Atalanta’s Champions League exit has suggested that Lookman could be on his way out of the club in the summer.
He was reportedly close to leaving last summer but decided to stay.
