Atalanta Fans Send Message to Ademola Lookman After Gasperini Calls Him ‘Worst Penalty Taker’
- Atalanta fans have displayed a supportive banner for Ademola Lookman outside the club’s training ground
- The banner’s message encourages Lookman to stay confident despite Gia Piero Gasperini’s criticism after his penalty miss
- Adekunle Ayodele, a consultant exercise and sports psychologist, says Gasperini's criticism threatens Atalanta's team dynamics
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Atalanta fans have shown unwavering support for Ademola Lookman after head coach Gian Piero Gasperini publicly criticised the Nigerian forward for his penalty-taking abilities.
Lookman, who played a crucial role in Atalanta’s Europa League triumph and was recently crowned African Player of the Year, found himself at the centre of controversy after missing a penalty in the club’s Champions League exit against Club Brugge.
Source: Getty Images
Gasperini made a harsh remark branding the 27-year-old forward “one of the worst penalty takers” after he missed a crucial penalty in Atalanta’s 3-1 defeat at home to the Belgian club, BBC reports.
Lookman, who made history after coming off the bench to score in 36 seconds in the second half, responded to his manager’s criticism by releasing a statement.
The reigning CAF Men’s Player of the Year claims he feels disrespected by the comments of Gasperini after trying his best to help the team succeed.
Atalanta fans send Lookman strong message of support
Meanwhile, Atalanta fanbase wasted no time in defending their star player.
According to Tutto Atalanta, a banner displayed outside the club’s Zingonia training ground carried a simple yet powerful message:
“Thanks Mola! Don’t be afraid to take a penalty kick.”
The banner, written in both English and Italian, was a clear sign that Atalanta fans refuse to turn their backs on Lookman in difficult times.
Rather than focusing on a single missed penalty, they choose to celebrate his contributions and encourage him to keep striving for greatness.
Source: Getty Images
Lookman has been one of Atalanta’s standout performers in recent seasons, delivering memorable performances and scoring crucial goals for the club.
The Nigerian forward’s hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen secured Atalanta’s first major European trophy, making him a hero in Bergamo.
Lookman’s legacy at Atalanta remains intact
Despite the recent controversy, the outpouring of support from fans reaffirms Lookman’s place as a key figure in Atalanta’s history.
The 27-year-old forward has repeatedly delivered on the big stage and remains a beloved figure among the supporters.
As the situation between Lookman, Gasperini, and the club continues to develop, one thing is clear: Atalanta fans stand firmly behind their hero.
The message outside Zingonia is more than just encouragement, it is a reminder that true loyalty goes beyond one moment of failure.
Coach's criticism threatens team's dynamics - Sports psychologist
Dr. Adekunle Ayodele, a consultant exercise and sports psychologist, in a chat with Legit.ng, weighed in on the controversy surrounding Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini's criticism of Ademola Lookman.
His words:
"Atalanta coach Gesperini actually committed a blunder by calling out Ademola Lookman. He, the coach, allowed his emotions to take over him. The place of mind, in the sport, optimum performance is essential. Calling out Ademola certainly will have a negative effect on team bonding and cohesion which might lead to social loafing."
"If the emotion is right, it serves as an energizer to greater performance. The coach has succeeded in dividing the team cohesion, which will lead to poor commitment, lack of confidence, lack of concentration, and not being able to control emotion."
According to Dr. Ayodele, Lookman's importance to the team cannot be overstated.
As he put it:
"Ademola has been the best player for the team in recent seasons, and losing a penalty is a natural thing for footballers. The fan standing by Ademola Lookman shows clearly that they would rather allow the coach to leave than Ademola."
Dr. Ayodele concluded that Atalanta's performance will require more than just physical preparation.
The sports psychologist stated:
"It will take more than physical preparation for Atalanta to perform well henceforth because Ademola's management team will use the opportunity to offer him to more serious teams.”
Fabrizio shares key update on Lookman’s future
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Lookman is set to leave Serie A side Atalanta this summer despite his recent fallout with manager Gian Piero Gasperini.
Renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed the news on his official social media following the explosive exchange that followed Atalanta’s surprise Champions League exit against Club Brugge.
Fabrizio further disclosed that talks about Lookman’s departure had been ongoing since last summer, with several clubs showing keen interest in acquiring the reigning CAF Men’s Player of the Year winner.
Editorial assistant Ololade Olatimehin provided exclusive commentary from a sports psychologist for this report.
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Source: Legit.ng
