Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman has hit back at manager Gian Piero Gasperini, branding his post-match criticism following Tuesday’s Champions League exit as “deeply disrespectful.”

The Nigerian international was introduced as a half-time substitute in Atalanta’s play-off second leg against Club Brugge, marking his return from injury. Despite Atalanta trailing 5-1 on aggregate at the time, Lookman made an immediate impact, scoring within 36 seconds of his introduction.

However, the game’s defining moment came on the hour mark when Atalanta were awarded a penalty. Lookman appeared to claim the ball ahead of designated takers Charles De Ketelaere and Mateo Retegui, only to miss the spot-kick. Gasperini did not hold back in his post-match comments.

“Lookman was not supposed to take that penalty. He is one of the worst penalty takers I have ever seen,” Gasperini remarked after the 5-2 aggregate defeat. “His record is terrible, even in training. He converts very few. Retegui and De Ketelaere were there, but Lookman, in a moment of enthusiasm after scoring, decided to take it himself, which was a gesture I did not appreciate at all.”

Lookman responded on Wednesday with a strongly worded statement addressing the manager’s remarks.

“It saddens me to have to write this statement, especially given everything we have achieved together as a team and as a city,” Lookman said. “Being singled out in this manner not only hurts but feels deeply disrespectful, particularly considering the immense hard work and commitment I put in every day to bring success to this club and to the incredible fans of Bergamo.”

The forward also suggested he had endured several difficulties during his time at Atalanta without voicing his grievances publicly.

“I have faced many challenging moments here, most of which I have never spoken about, as I believe the team must always come first. That makes what happened last night even more painful. Along with our incredible fans, we as a team are hurting after that result.”

Lookman also sought to clarify the penalty controversy, insisting he was instructed to take the spot-kick.

“During the match, the designated penalty taker instructed me to take it, and in that moment, I took responsibility for the team. Football is about challenges and learning from setbacks, and I will continue to turn pain into power.”

The fallout from Gasperini’s comments has sparked debate, with some criticising the manager for publicly admonishing his player, while others believe Lookman should not have taken the penalty. As Atalanta now shift focus to domestic commitments, it remains to be seen how the incident will affect their dressing room dynamic.