Atalanta coach, Gian Piero Gasperini, seems to be gradually backtracking on his criticism of Ademola Lookman, noting the Nigerian forward as their most lively player despite their goalless draw against Venezia at the Gewiss Stadium, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Lookman and his teammates endured a frustrating night as Atalanta were held to a disappointing 0-0 draw, missing key chances that could have secured a vital win in their Serie A title pursuit.
The reigning African Player of The Year’s biggest miss was in the 83rd minute when he fired over the bar from close range after Sead Kolasinac’s flicked header found him unmarked.
Gasperini had lashed out at the player following their exit from the UEFA Champions League some days ago and despite not scoring, the coach couldn’t but praise his impact on the team.
“Lookman is and always remains our most lively player,” Gasperini said as per SportItalia.
“He had multiple chances and found himself in dangerous positions several times, but unfortunately, we weren’t sharp enough to finish them off. Retegui also had opportunities, but at the moment, we are less precise.”
With Atalanta losing ground in the title race, Gasperini will be hoping Lookman regains his clinical edge in their upcoming fixtures.
The Nigerian has scored 15 goals plus five assists in the Serie A this season, standing as the club’s second-highest goal scorer behind Mateo Retegui (21), despite missing a few weeks of action due to injury.
Since joining Atalanta from RB Leipzig in 2022, the former Everton player has established himself as one of Serie A’s most dangerous attackers, amassing an impressive 49 goals and 23 assists in 107 competitive matches.
Amid the winding feud with Gasperini, the Italian club are reportedly open to selling their star player if they receive offers in the region of €65m (£53.8m), with Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Inter Milan also monitoring the situation.
Manchester United’s interest comes as they look to bolster their attacking options under new manager Ruben Amorim, while Newcastle see Lookman as a potential solution to their inconsistent form in front of goal this season.
