Gasperini takes another swipe at Lookman after brace vs Empoli
Gian Piero Gasperini took another swipe at Ademola Lookman following their ongoing dispute. Speaking after Atalanta’s 5-0 win over Empoli, Gasperini said, “Lookman has always scored a lot of goals, at least since he joined Atalanta. He’s become an extraordinary player, especially when he puts himself at the disposal of the team. He mentioned a bond with the fans, and I appreciate that.”
The relationship between Gasperini and Lookman continues to sour, especially after Lookman notably refused to shake his manager’s hand following a substitution during the match.
The row between the two started after Lookman missed a penalty in a Champions League play-off loss to Club Brugge, which led to Gasperini criticising him. Lookman later described the comments as “disrespectful,” and it seems the issue remains unresolved.
Despite the tension, Lookman’s career at Atalanta has been a success, with 49 goals and 23 assists in 107 appearances since joining in the summer of 2022 for €9.35m plus bonuses. Before Atalanta, Lookman played for clubs like Charlton Athletic, Everton, RB Leipzig, Fulham, and Leicester City, where he never fully reached his potential.
