Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman is expected to leave the Serie A club this summer following a war of words with manager Gian Piero Gasperini.
Atalanta were knocked out of the Champions League by Club Brugge after unexpectedly being beaten 5-2 on aggregate in their play-off tie.
Lookman came off the bench to score in the second leg but then missed a penalty, after appearing to take the ball away from first-choice options Charles De Ketelaere and Mateo Retegui, and came in for harsh criticism from manager Gasperini afterwards, who called him “one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen”.
However, Lookman had never missed a penalty for Atalanta before seeing his effort saved against Club Brugge and has since responded to his manager’s “disrespectful” words.
Also, the forward admitted he has been saddened to have been singled out by his coach and said he had been instructed to take the spot-kick.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Lookman will try to clarify the situation with Gasperini but will also aim to move on in the summer.
The 27-year-old already had plans to leave Atalanta at the end of the season and remains eager to find a new club.
Did You Know?
Lookman needed just 34 seconds to score against Club Brugge in the Champions League.
His goal is the fastest by a substitute in the second half of a match in the history of the competition.
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Lookman is an important player for Atalanta and fans will be hoping that he and manager Gasperini can put this unsavoury war of words behind them.
The Serie A side are back in action on Sunday against Empoli and remain in the title race in Italy as they sit down in third place in the table, just five points behind leaders Napoli.
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