Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini did not hold back his frustration after his side’s recent match, calling out winger Ademola Lookman for taking a penalty he was never assigned to. The Italian manager, known for his disciplined tactical approach, expressed disappointment over Lookman’s decision to take matters into his own hands.

“Lookman was not supposed to take that penalty,” Gasperini said after the game. “He is one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen. He has a frankly terrible record even in training, he converts very few of them. Retegui and De Ketelaere were there, but Lookman, in a moment of enthusiasm after scoring, decided to take the ball. That was a gesture I did not appreciate at all.”

The incident occurred during a crucial moment in the match when Atalanta were awarded a penalty. With designated takers Matteo Retegui and Charles De Ketelaere available, Lookman seized the ball and took the spot-kick himself, only to fail to convert it.

Lookman, who has been one of Atalanta’s key attacking players, had already found the back of the net earlier in the game. However, his decision to step up for the penalty backfired, further frustrating his manager.

Gasperini’s comments have sparked debate among Atalanta fans and football pundits. While some believe the coach was right to call out the Nigerian forward’s poor penalty record, others argue that such harsh public criticism could affect the player’s confidence.