Super Eagles invitee Gift Orban has shown support for his compatriot Ademola Lookman following the public criticism he received from Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini, Soccernet.ng<\/a> reports.<\/strong><\/p>\n Lookman, who missed a crucial penalty in Atalanta\u2019s UEFA Europa League clash against Club Brugge, faced harsh words from Gasperini, who labelled him a bad penalty taker<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cAdemola Lookman is one of the worst penalty-takers I\u2019ve ever seen. He wanted to take the penalty after scoring a goal. He took the ball despite Retegui and De Ketelaere being available\u2026 I didn\u2019t like what Lookman did.\u201d Gasperini said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n READ MORE<\/strong>:\u00a0\u201cIt saddens me\u201d \u2013 Atalanta\u2019s Lookman breaks silence on Gasperini\u2019s penalty backlash<\/a><\/p>\n The public criticism prompted Lookman to break his silence with disappointment over being singled out despite his contributions to the team.<\/p>\n \u201cIt saddens me on a day like this to have to write this statement \u2013 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,\u201d Lookman shared on his social media page<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n TSG Hoffenheim forward, Orban, reacting to this, quickly offered words of encouragement to his countryman by replying to Lookman\u2019s post on X (formerly Twitter).<\/p>\n \u201cWe stand with you bro.\u201d he wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n We Stand With You Bro \u2764\ufe0f<\/p>\n \u2014 Gift Orban (@GiftOrban_) February 19, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Despite the setback, Lookman remains one of Atalanta\u2019s key players this season. In his 2024-25 season, he has scored 15 goals in 28 appearances for the club\u201410 in Serie A and five in the Champions League.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
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