Serie A: Gasperini says Lookman can become Atalanta’s first penalty taker

By Wale Mustapha

Atalanta’s head coach, Gian Piero Gasperini, has expressed his belief that Ademola Lookman has the potential to become the club’s first-choice penalty taker with further training and development.

Gasperini’s comments followed the controversy surrounding Lookman’s penalty miss during Atalanta’s UEFA Champions League defeat to Club Brugge, a result that saw the club knocked out of the competition.

After the match, Gasperini publicly criticized Lookman, labeling him “one of the worst penalty kick takers” he had ever seen. The remark drew backlash from both fans and Lookman himself, who responded by calling the comments disrespectful.

However, Gasperini clarified that his intention was never to offend the Nigerian forward.

Instead, he emphasized that Lookman’s performance in the game, despite the penalty miss, was commendable.

“Lookman felt offended, but I didn’t want to offend anyone. He entered with a fantastic approach against Club Brugge,” Gasperini stated. “If he starts training to improve on penalties… with his exceptional skills, Ademola can become our first penalty taker.”

 Despite the public tension, Gasperini appears committed to supporting Lookman’s growth, suggesting that with the right focus, he could assume a key role at Atalanta in the future.