Ademola Lookman has been a key figure for Atalanta, but his recent public fallout with manager Gian Piero Gasperini has sparked outrage. The disagreement came after Atalanta’s 3-1 loss to Club Brugge, which saw them eliminated from the UEFA Champions League. Lookman came off the bench, immediately scored, and later missed a penalty. That miss led to Gasperini branding him one of the worst penalty takers he has ever seen.
Lookman, understandably upset, responded on social media, calling the remarks deeply disrespectful and expressing his frustration at being singled out. This controversy has raised questions about how Nigerian players are treated by their European clubs, with Lookman’s case echoing past incidents involving Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, and other Super Eagles stars.
What Happened Between Lookman and Gasperini
Atalanta entered the second leg of their UCL playoff needing to overturn a 2-1 deficit against Club Brugge. Lookman, introduced as a substitute, made an immediate impact by scoring, bringing hope to Atalanta’s comeback bid. Later in the game, the team won a penalty, and Lookman stepped up to take it, only to miss.
After the match, Gasperini’s comments shocked many.
“Lookman was not supposed to take that penalty. He is one of the worst penalty takers I have ever seen. “
This is not just any player Gasperini is talking about. Lookman is the current CAF Player of the Year, an award that recognizes him as the best footballer on the African continent. He won the award ahead of Simon Adingra and Mohamed Salah, proving his influence at the highest level.
More importantly, Lookman played a crucial role in Gasperini’s own career. Last season, he scored a historic hat trick in the Europa League final, single-handedly leading Atalanta to victory over Bayer Leverkusen. That performance was not just any hat trick. It was one of the greatest individual displays in a European final, securing Atalanta’s first major European trophy and cementing Gasperini’s legacy as a coach. Without Lookman’s brilliance, Gasperini’s resume would be missing its biggest achievement.
Osimhen vs Napoli Another Case of Disrespect
This situation is very similar to what Victor Osimhen experienced at Napoli. The club posted a mocking video of Osimhen on social media after he missed a penalty, a move that led to widespread backlash. Osimhen, Napoli’s star striker and one of the best in the world, was visibly frustrated and even deleted Napoli-related posts from his Instagram.
Despite being the main reason Napoli won the Scudetto, Osimhen felt disrespected by the club’s actions. Ultimately, he was forced out of the club.
Nigerian Players and the Pattern of Disrespect
Lookman and Osimhen are not the only Nigerian stars to face questionable treatment from their clubs.
Kelechi Iheanacho in England despite winning the FA Cup and delivering key performances for Manchester City and Leicester City always struggled for consistent game time, often finding himself benched even when in form.
Taiwo Awoniyi at Nottingham Forest spent years under Liverpool’s control without a work permit, forcing him to move across multiple European leagues before finally getting an opporunity in England with Nottingham Forrest.
A Deeper Issue in European Football
The incidents involving Lookman and Osimhen highlight a bigger issue. Are Nigerian players getting the respect they deserve in European football? While football is a tough industry, the public nature of these criticisms, especially when compared to how European stars are treated, raises eyebrows.
Lookman’s situation at Atalanta could impact his future at the club just as Osimhen’s issue with Napoli ended his time at Naples. With Nigerian players continuing to excel across Europe, one thing is clear. Respect should be earned on the pitch, not taken away through unnecessary public criticism.
So what do you think? Are Nigerian players being treated unfairly in Europe or is this just part of football? Let’s discuss.
