Gasperini clarifies comments on Lookman's penalty miss after Champions League exit

Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has publicly addressed his controversial remarks about Ademola Lookman following the team's UEFA Champions League exit to Club Brugge. Gasperini had criticized Lookman for missing a penalty during the match, calling him 'one of the worst penalty takers' he has ever seen, which prompted Lookman to express that he felt disrespected by the comments. In subsequent statements, Gasperini clarified that he did not intend to offend and acknowledged Lookman's positive attitude during the game, suggesting he could improve his penalty-taking skills to become the team's primary taker. Meanwhile, Samuel Eto'o has offered support to Lookman, emphasizing that those who take risks can also fail, and commended Lookman's courage. As Atalanta prepares for their next match against Empoli, the club has reportedly considered holding peace talks between Gasperini and Lookman to address the fallout from the incident. Despite the criticism, Lookman has been a significant contributor to Atalanta's season, scoring 15 goals so far.