New Delhi: Last season’s UEFA Europa League winners Atalanta were knocked out from the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds in embarrassing fashion as they were thrashed 5-2 on aggregate by European minnows Club Brugge. The Bergamo based side lost the second leg 3-1 at home, conceding three in the first half itself but all the limelight was taken away from Brugge’s historic victory following Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini’s post match comments.
Midway through the second half when the score was 3-1, Atalanta’s star player Ademola Lookman stepped up to take a penalty which he proceed to miss, drawing the ire from his manager. Gasperini was furious in the post match conference and blasted the striker’s decision to take the penalty and slammed the penalty as well. The 61-year-old said, “Lookman wasn’t supposed to take the penalty. He’s one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen. Even in training he has a very low percentage, he kicks them really badly.”
The comments didn’t sit well with the striker and he issued a statement regarding the same, calling Giasperini’s words “deeply disrespectful” and was hurt over “being singled out” after the loss. The rift has seemingly drawn a wedge between the player and the manager with reputed sources now claiming that the striker will depart the club at the end of the season, concluding a three year stint in Bergamo.
🚨🇳🇬 Understand plan remains for Ademola Lookman to LEAVE Atalanta this summer.
Atalanta will try to clarify the situation with Gasperini in the next 24h after strong quotes… but won’t change future plans.
It was already planned last summer, transfer to happen this year. pic.twitter.com/f06kx2yVj6
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 19, 2025
There were tensions growing between the two for a while reportedly with the striker hinting at it in his statement as well. Lookman said, “I’ve gone through a lot of tough moments here, most of which I’ve never spoken about, because the team must always be protected. That’s what makes what happened last night even more painful.” This incident has now set Lookman’s departure at the end of the season.
Sources claim that the club were prepared to let the player leave since the season began but after the strong comments from Gasperini, the plans for his departure seem to have been cemented. This would come as a huge blow to the Italian side as Lookman had been one of their best players since arriving in the city and losing him at a time where they’re building up to be credible title contenders.
Star performer for Atalanta
Ademola Lookman helped Atalanta Coach, Gian Gasperini win his only trophy as a Manager in 30 years in 2024.
He scored a hat trick in the UEFA Europa League final.
Before he missed the penalty against Club Brugge, he scored all 4 penalties he took.
The designated penalty taker,… pic.twitter.com/1z741qgghj
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) February 19, 2025
Lookman joined he Bergamo based side in the summer of 2022 from Rb Leipzig after disappointing loan spells in the Premier League with both Fulham and Leicester City. After being touted as a young prospect early on his career had stagnated a bit before he revived it in Italy. His first season at the club saw him contribute to 21 goals in 33 games before he bettered that tally last season.
He was the star man for Atalanta during their historic 2023/24 season with 27 goal contributions in 45 games along with a hattrick in the UEFA Europa League final, handing the club their first trophy in 61 years. He is leading the club’s title charge this year as well and has contributed to 22 goals in just 28 games in the current campaign, and even scored 47 seconds into the second half during their defeat to Club Brugge. Clearly losing such a huge performer would come as a huge blow to Atalanta and they would need to be well prepared to deal with his exit.
Atalanta have been making the news since crashing out of the UEFA Champions League due to comments against star striker Ademola Lookman by manager Gian Piero Gasperini which is set to cost the Bergamo based side. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
