Champion League
Gasperini set to quit Atalanta after Lookman penalty controversy
By Monsurah Olatunji
Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has suggested he may be ready to leave the club after facing intense backlash for his harsh comments about Ademola Lookman’s penalty miss in a crucial Champions League clash against Club Brugge.
The penalty incident occurred during Atalanta’s 3-1 defeat in the second leg of the Champions League play-off, where Lookman took the crucial spot-kick, which Gasperini criticized as a poor decision.
In his post-match comments, Gasperini referred to the Nigerian international as the “worst penalty taker,” sparking a fierce fallout.
The public criticism has left Atalanta in a difficult position, with reports indicating that Lookman may be on his way out of the club in the summer. Napoli and Juventus are reportedly monitoring the situation closely.
The fallout from Gasperini’s remarks has ignited a storm of criticism from fans and players alike, with many accusing the coach of publicly humiliating his best player instead of addressing the matter privately. This has put Gasperini’s future at the club in jeopardy.
According to journalist Gerardo Fasano of Ruleta Sport via Tutto Atalanta, the backlash was so severe that it nearly led Gasperini to resign on the morning of February 19.
Only after a meeting with Atalanta’s management, led by the Percassi family, was Gasperini persuaded to remain in charge until the end of the season.
Speaking in a press conference on Saturday, Gasperini reflected on the aftermath of his comments, hinting that the controversy might lead him to leave.
He said, “It had an extraordinary impact, everything that came afterwards… mine was not meant to be an offensive sentence.”
In the same breath, Gasperini expressed regret that Lookman did not step up to handle the situation differently.
“I would have liked a strong player like Lookman to have made a gesture towards [Charles] De Ketelaere, saying: ‘Come on, keep the ball, put it in.’”
Amid the ongoing crisis, Atalanta is reportedly preparing for life after Gasperini. It is believed that the club has initiated discussions with former Napoli and Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri as a potential successor, marking the possible end of Gasperini’s tenure at the club.
