Atalanta ahead Ademola Lookman has responded to supervisor Gian Piero Gasperini’s public criticism following his missed penalty of their UEFA Europa League conflict towards Membership Brugge, Soccernet.ng studies.
Lookman, who not too long ago returned from damage, was instructed to take the penalty however didn’t convert, with Atalanta ultimately shedding 3-1 on the evening and exiting the competitors with a 5-2 combination defeat.
Gasperini, in his post-match feedback, closely criticised the Nigerian worldwide, for taking the penalty, which may have modified the course of the sport.
“Ademola Lookman is likely one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen. He needed to take the penalty after scoring a objective. He took the ball regardless of Retegui and De Ketelaere being obtainable… I didn’t like what Lookman did.”
READ MORE: Champions League: Ademola Lookman suffers heartbreak with Atalanta as Onyedika laughs final
The 27-year-old ahead has now addressed the state of affairs in an announcement on his social media web page, expressing disappointment at being publicly singled out.
“It saddens me on a day like this to have to put in writing this assertion – most of all due to what we’ve got achieved collectively as a crew and as a metropolis. Being singled out within the method I’ve been not solely hurts however feels deeply disrespectful, not least due to the immense arduous work and dedication I’ve at all times put in every day to assist deliver success to this membership and to the unbelievable followers of Bergamo,” Lookman wrote.
The Tremendous Eagles attacker additionally clarified that he didn’t take the penalty on his personal accord however was instructed to take action by the designated taker.
“Through the match, the designated penalty taker instructed me to take the penalty; and to assist the crew, I took duty within the second to take action. Life’s about challenges and turning ache into energy, which I’ll proceed to do,” he added.
Lookman has been considered one of Atalanta’s high performers this season, scoring a hat-trick within the UEFA Europa League last towards Bayer Leverkusen to safe the membership’s first-ever European title.
READ MORE: Ademola Lookman breaks UEFA Europa League document with hattrick towards Boniface’s Leverkusen
His performances additionally earned him a 14th-place end within the Ballon d’Or rankings and the 2024 CAF Participant of the 12 months award.
With the summer time switch window approaching, Gasperini’s feedback may additional gasoline hypothesis about Lookman’s future, particularly after curiosity from golf equipment like Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United within the January window.
Ayomide Oguntimehin
Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports activities journalist and Editor at Soccernet.ng, with a confirmed monitor document in conducting interviews with Tremendous Eagles stars equivalent to William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Vibrant Osayi-Samuel, Ademola Lookman, and lots of others. He has additionally made a major influence in breaking switch information tales.
Grounded in video modifying, video journalism, social media administration, and content material technique, Ayomide brings a wealth of experience to his work.
