Nigerian football fans experienced a sense of déjà vu this week after Atalanta’s Champions League exit against Club Brugge. Following the 5-2 aggregate loss, Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini criticized Ademola Lookman, even though the forward played only 45 minutes of the entire tie.
Atalanta went into the second leg trailing 2-1 but found themselves 3-0 down by halftime. Lookman, who had not played in the first leg or the first half of the second leg, was brought on after the break. He made an immediate impact by scoring a goal. However, when he had the chance to score again from the penalty spot, his weak shot was saved by Simon Mignolet.
After the match, Gasperini was furious.
“Lookman was not supposed to take that penalty. He is one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen,” Gasperini said. “Even in training, he barely scores from penalties.”
The next day, Lookman responded, explaining that the designated penalty taker asked him to take the kick. He also expressed disappointment at having to issue a statement instead of focusing on the team’s overall achievements.
The 27-year-old reminded fans of his hat-trick in last season’s Europa League final, which helped Atalanta qualify for this season’s Champions League.
Lookman’s situation reminded many Nigerian fans of Victor Osimhen’s struggles at Napoli.
In the 2022-23 season, Osimhen scored 31 goals, helping Napoli win their first Serie A title in 33 years. He was also the league’s top scorer and later won the CAF Player of the Year award.
However, after coach Luciano Spalletti left, Napoli struggled. New manager Antonio Conte sidelined Osimhen, took away his No. 9 shirt, and signed Romelu Lukaku instead. This led to Osimhen leaving for Galatasaray on loan, with a permanent move expected in the summer.
Some believe the treatment of Lookman and Osimhen is not about nationality. Wale Agbede, Head of Sports at Plus TV, suggests that Gasperini is known for his aggressive management style. He has had issues with several players, including Papu Gomez, whom he forced out of Atalanta after a dispute.
Regarding Osimhen, Agbede thinks the striker should not have signed a new contract if he planned to leave. He pointed out that Napoli allowed Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to join PSG smoothly because he did not extend his contract.
Lookman’s contract with Atalanta runs until 2026, but reports suggest he will leave this summer. Transfer experts claim an agreement is already in place, with Atalanta expecting around €50 million for his transfer.
It remains to be seen where Lookman will go next, but his situation once again highlights the challenges some African players face in Italy’s top league.
