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Atalanta fans have made their loyalties clear in the growing tension between Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, with public support overwhelmingly in favour of the Africa Player of the Year, Footynaija.com reports.
The relationship between Lookman and Gasperini has soured following a recent penalty controversy, but fans of the Bergamo club have left no doubt about where their sympathies lie.
A banner outside Atalanta’s Zingonia training ground reads: “Thanks Mola! Don’t be afraid to take a penalty kick.” The message, written in Italian, has since gone viral, a clear indication of the deep connection between Lookman and the Atalanta faithful.
A banner in support of Ademola Lookman has been placed outside Zingonia this morning.
— Atalanta BC News (@AtalantaBC_News) February 20, 2025
Atalantini Online pic.twitter.com/ZePfqaAmgj
Lookman: A hero on the pitch and in Atalanta hearts
Since joining Atalanta in 2022, Lookman has established himself as a key figure in the club’s history.
His crowning moment came in May 2024, when he scored a stunning hat-trick in the UEFA Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, securing Atalanta’s first-ever European title.
That performance not only sealed his status as a club legend but also earned him the prestigious African Footballer of the Year award — making him only the seventh Nigerian to win the accolade.
In September 2024, he also became the first active Atalanta player to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
Lookman vs Gasperini
Tensions between Lookman and Gasperini came to a head after Atalanta’s UEFA Champions League exit to Club Brugge.
Lookman, who had recently returned from injury, took a crucial penalty but failed to convert, with Atalanta eventually losing 3-1 on the night and 5-2 on aggregate.
After the match, Gasperini’s scathing criticism of Lookman sparked outrage among fans.
Ademola Lookman helped Atalanta Coach, Gian Gasperini win his only trophy as a Manager in 30 years in 2024.
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) February 19, 2025
He scored a hat trick in the UEFA Europa League final.
Before he missed the penalty against Club Brugge, he scored all 4 penalties he took.
The designated penalty taker,… pic.twitter.com/1z741qgghj
“Ademola Lookman is one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen,” the Italian coach said. “He wanted to take the penalty after scoring a goal. He took the ball despite Retegui and De Ketelaere being available… I didn’t like what Lookman did.”
Lookman later responded to the criticism in a statement on social media, expressing his disappointment at being singled out.
“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,” he wrote. “Being singled out in the manner I have been not only hurts but feels deeply disrespectful.”
The Nigerian international also clarified that he had not acted on his own accord. “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,” he added.
Fans stand behind their Nigerian star
While the club has yet to address the situation formally, Atalanta fans have taken matters into their own hands. Their banner at Zingonia serves as both an act of defiance and a symbol of unity, urging Lookman to stay strong amid the controversy.
For the fans, Lookman remains a hero—his historic hat-trick, European triumph, and Ballon d’Or nomination outweighing a single missed penalty. In Bergamo, the message is clear: those who make history for Atalanta deserve unwavering support.
