Former Cameroon and Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o has backed Ademola Lookman in his ongoing feud with Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini, Soccernet.ng reports.
The tension between Lookman and Gasperini escalated this week following Atalanta’s shock Champions League exit at the hands of Club Brugge.
Europa League holders Atalanta were favourites to advance to the last 16 but suffered a stunning 5-2 aggregate defeat, losing both legs to the Belgian side.
Rather than acknowledge his team’s poor performances, Gasperini singled out Lookman’s missed penalty as a decisive factor in their elimination.
Lookman did see his second-half spot-kick saved by former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, but the Nigerian forward had earlier given Atalanta hope with a goal just 30 seconds into the second half.
In a scathing post-match press conference, Gasperini publicly ridiculed Lookman, calling him “the worst penalty taker” he had ever seen — despite the fact that the Nigerian had successfully converted all four of his previous penalties for Atalanta.
Lookman did not take the criticism lightly, firing back at his manager and branding his remarks as “disrespectful.”
Ademola Lookman releases a statement after Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini called him “one of the worst penalty takers” he’s ever seen following his miss vs. Club Brugge in the Champions League. pic.twitter.com/sErCt3W9Tu
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 19, 2025
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Eto'o and others rally behind Lookman
Lookman has received widespread support in the fallout, with Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero and former Nigeria international Duke Udi both criticizing Gasperini’s harsh remarks.
Atalanta’s American co-owners have also reportedly expressed their displeasure over Gasperini’s handling of the situation, unhappy that he publicly criticized one of the club’s biggest stars.
Now, four-time African Footballer of the Year and AFCON all-time top scorer Samuel Eto’o has added his voice to the debate.
In a post on his official Instagram page, Eto'o praised Lookman for his courage and assured him of Africa's unwavering support.
“My younger brother, memory in football lasts 90 minutes—the time of a match and next.
“For us, you are and will always be our champion. Only he who has the courage to shoot can miss. Thank you for your courage, great champion.” (Translated from French).
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Lookman’s Atalanta legacy grows
Despite being at Atalanta for just two and a half years, Lookman has already cemented his place among the club's greatest-ever players.
Since arriving from RB Leipzig in 2022, he has won Atalanta’s Player of the Year award in back-to-back seasons. His performances propelled the team to last season’s Europa League final, where he delivered a historic hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen to secure Atalanta’s first-ever continental trophy.
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
That feat made him the first African player to score a hat-trick in a European final, and his brilliance was recognized in December when he became the first Atalanta player to win African Footballer of the Year.
The 27-year-old forward is already being linked with an exit from Atalanta in the summer. Lookman is not short of admirers as Napoli and Juventus are among the interested club in Italy while English giants Arsenal and Liverpool are also reported moitoring his situation.
