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Former Cameroon and Barcelona striker Samuel Eto\u2019o<\/a> has backed Ademola Lookman<\/a> in his ongoing feud with Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini, Soccernet.ng<\/a> reports.<\/strong><\/p>\n The tension between Lookman and Gasperini<\/a> escalated this week following Atalanta\u2019s shock Champions League exit at the hands of Club Brugge.<\/p>\n Europa League holders Atalanta were favourites to advance to the last 16 but suffered a stunning 5-2 aggregate defeat<\/a>, losing both legs to the Belgian side.<\/p>\n Rather than acknowledge his team\u2019s poor performances, Gasperini singled out Lookman\u2019s missed penalty as a decisive factor in their elimination.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n In a scathing post-match press conference, Gasperini publicly ridiculed Lookman, calling him \u201cthe worst penalty taker\u201d he had ever seen \u2014 despite the fact that the Nigerian had successfully converted all four of his previous penalties for Atalanta.<\/p>\n Lookman did not take the criticism lightly, firing back at his manager and branding his remarks as \u201cdisrespectful.\u201d<\/p>\n Ademola Lookman releases a statement after Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini called him \u201cone of the worst penalty takers\u201d he\u2019s ever seen following his miss vs. Club Brugge in the Champions League. pic.twitter.com\/sErCt3W9Tu<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 19, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Lookman has received widespread support in the fallout, with Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero<\/a> and former Nigeria international Duke Udi both criticizing Gasperini\u2019s harsh remarks.<\/p>\n Atalanta\u2019s American co-owners have also reportedly expressed their displeasure over Gasperini\u2019s handling of the situation, unhappy that he publicly criticized one of the club\u2019s biggest stars.<\/p>\n Now, four-time African Footballer of the Year and AFCON all-time top scorer Samuel Eto\u2019o has added his voice to the debate.<\/p>\n In a post on his official Instagram page, Eto\u2019o praised Lookman for his courage and assured him of Africa\u2019s unwavering support.<\/p>\n \u201cMy younger brother, memory in football lasts 90 minutes\u2014the time of a match and next.<\/p>\n \u201cFor 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.\u201d (Translated from French).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n Despite being at Atalanta for just two and a half years, Lookman has already cemented his place among the club\u2019s greatest-ever players.<\/p>\n Since arriving from RB Leipzig in 2022, he has won Atalanta\u2019s Player of the Year award in back-to-back seasons. His performances propelled the team to last season\u2019s Europa League final, where he delivered a historic hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen to secure Atalanta\u2019s first-ever continental trophy.<\/p>\n Ademola Lookman helped Atalanta Coach, Gian Gasperini win his only trophy as a Manager in 30 years in 2024.<\/p>\n He scored a hat trick in the UEFA Europa League final.<\/p>\n Before he missed the penalty against Club Brugge, he scored all 4 penalties he took.<\/p>\n The designated penalty taker,\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/1z741qgghj<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u2014 Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) February 19, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> are among the interested club in Italy while English giants Arsenal and Liverpool are also reported moitoring his situation.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
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Eto\u2019o and others rally behind Lookman<\/h4>\n
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Lookman\u2019s Atalanta legacy grows<\/h4>\n
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