Ademola Lookman has expressed his disappointment and frustration after being publicly criticized by Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini following their Champions League elimination on Tuesday. The Serie A side suffered a 3-1 home defeat to Club Brugge, exiting Europe’s elite competition 5-2 on aggregate.

Lookman, who came on as a halftime substitute, saw his second-half penalty saved, a miss that drew sharp criticism from Gasperini. The Italian coach labeled the London-born forward as “one of the worst penalty takers,” comments that Lookman described as “deeply disrespectful” in a heartfelt statement shared on his Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts.

In his post, Lookman wrote: *“It saddens me on a day like this to have to write this statement – most of all because of what we have achieved together as a team and as a city. 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.”*

The 26-year-old also referenced previous challenges he has faced during his time at Atalanta, many of which he chose not to speak about publicly in order to protect the team. *“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.”*

Lookman explained that he stepped up to take the penalty after being instructed by the designated penalty taker, emphasizing his willingness to take responsibility in the moment. *“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.”*

Since joining Atalanta in 2022, Lookman has been a key player for the club, scoring 47 goals in 106 appearances. He famously scored a hat-trick in last season’s Europa League final to secure victory over Bayer Leverkusen, cementing his place in the hearts of Atalanta fans.

Despite the disappointment of their Champions League exit, Lookman remains focused on moving forward. *“Along with our incredible fans, we as a team are hurting too with last night’s result. I will continue to give my all for this club and its supporters, as I always have.”*

The public fallout between player and manager highlights the tensions following a disappointing result, but Lookman’s response underscores his professionalism and commitment to the team. As Atalanta shifts its focus back to Serie A, the forward will be looking to channel his frustration into performances on the pitch.