ATALANTA CIVIL WAR: ADEMOLA LOOKMAN SLAMS 'DEEPLY DISRESPECTFUL' MANAGER IN LENGTHY STATEMENT AFTER HE CALLED HIM 'ONE OF THE WORST PENALTY TAKERS' EVER SEEN

Ademola Lookman has  labelled his manager Gian Piero Gasperini's comments 'deeply disrespectful' and 'hurtful'

• Atalanta suffered shock Champions league play-off round defeat by Club Brugge

• Lookman scored against the Belgian side before missing a spot kick in the loss

• LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off! Does Ruben Amorim come under pressure at Manchester United this season? 

Atalanta striker Ademola Lookman has slammed his own manager for describing him as 'one of the worst penalty takers' he had ever seen after the side's shock Champions League exit. 

The reigning African Footballer of the Year, who was the match winner for the Bergamo club in last season's Europa League final, labelled Gian Piero Gasperini's comments as 'deeply disrespectful' and 'hurtful'.

Belgian side Club Brugge stunned Atalanta 3-1 in the second leg of their play-off tie to dump the Italian side out with a 5-2 aggregate win and reach the last 16.

Lookman pulled back one goal for Atalanta when they were 3-0 down. But the Nigerian, who has scored 15 times this season, had a penalty saved as they crashed out, after which Gasperini said Lookman was not supposed to take the penalty.

In response to the shock comments, which have plunged the club into civil war, Lookman said Gasperini had been 'deeply disrespectful'. 

'Being singled out in the manner I have been not only hurts but feels deeply disrespectful, not least because of the immense hard work and commitment I have always put in each and every day to help bring success to this club and to the incredible fans of Bergamo,' Lookman wrote on Instagram.

'In truth, I have dealt with many difficult moments during my time here - the majority of which I have never spoken about because in my opinion the team must always be protected and must come first. 

'This makes what happened last night even more hurtful. Along with our incredible fans, we as a team are hurting too with last night's result.

'During the match the designated penalty taker instructed me to take the penalty; and to support the team I took responsibility in the moment to do so. 

'Life's about challenges and turning pain into power which I'll continue to do.'

Gasperini said Lookman has a 'terrible record even in training', adding that Mateo Retegui and Charles De Ketelaere were better options to take the spot kick.

'Lookman is one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen,' said the veteran manager.

'He wanted to take the penalty after scoring a goal, he took the ball despite (Mateo) Retegui and (Charles) De Keteleare available to take it… I didn’t like what Lookman did.

'Lookman wasn't supposed to take the penalty. Even in training he doesn’t have a good rate of scoring from the spot.' 

Retegui is Atalanta's regular penalty taker, having converted two of his three spot-kicks in Serie A this campaign, but Lookman has also taken and scored one. 

Lookman was Atalanta's hero last season when they won the Europa League, netting a hat-trick in the final when they beat Bayer Leverkusen who had been undefeated all season.

Atalanta's next match is a trip to Empoli in Serie A on Sunday. It remains to be seen whether Lookman, a former Leicester and Fulham star, will be included in the squad following the public fallout with his manager.

- ROHITH NAIR, REUTERS and TUM BALOGUN

VICTOR OSIMHEN: IS YHE GALATASARAY AND SUPER EAGLES FORWARD YORUBA OR EDO?

Match between AZ - Galatasaray. Galatasaray Victor Osimhen acknowledges the fans. Photo by IMAGO

Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen has sparked mixed reactions between the Yoruba and Edo people of Nigeria following his recent comments about Amala, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Nigerian international was born to parents from Edo State, in southern Nigeria. However, he was born in Lagos and spent his entire life in southwestern Nigeria, predominantly occupied by the Yorubas.

In a recent interview, the Galatasaray forward did not shy away from his Lagos roots, identifying as Yoruba rather than Edo in a viral video.

Amala: Osimhen Recommends Yoruba Delicacy

The Napoli-owned forward recently garnered attention when asked about one Nigerian dish he believes everyone should try.

Osimhen, without hesitation, responded: “I grew up in Lagos, and we the Yorubas love Amala, so everyone should try it.”

 His statement sparked mixed reactions, with some seeing it as an inclusive remark while others felt he was distancing himself from his Edo heritage.

Osimhen: Edo by Parentage, Yoruba by Upbringing

As mentioned earlier, Osimhen’s parents are from Edo State, but having spent his entire life in Lagos, his lifestyle aligns with that of a typical Yoruba person. However, his Edo heritage remains undeniable.

Despite his rise to the top, Osimhen has never forgotten his Lagos upbringing. Last Christmas, he visited his childhood community in Olusosun, Lagos, where he distributed dozens of tricycles (Keke) and food items to youths and mothers.

Lookman Learns Yoruba from Osimhen

Ademola Lookman shocked the Nigerian football community after winning the 2024 CAF Player of the Year award by greeting the audience in Yoruba.

Lookman later revealed that Osimhen played a key role in his integration into the Nigerian squad, helping him learn the language.

“We are proud as a group of what we achieved at AFCON. Now, some people speak Yoruba to me. If somebody wants to tell me something, they tell me in Yoruba. Like Victor Osimhen, he would speak to me in Yoruba. But sometimes, if he says something to me in Yoruba and I can reply, then I say it,” Lookman said.

Aside Lookman’s confirmation, Osimhen has also been seen engaging with fans in the Yoruba language, which further shows his deep connection to the Yoruba culture.

- Ayomide Oguntimehin

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