Atalanta manager, Gian Piero Gasperini and Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman shared a touching moment on Sunday as the player was substituted in the 80th minute of Atalanta’s historic 4-0 victory over Juventus at the Allianz Stadium.
The embrace between the two appeared to signal the end of a recent public fallout that had overshadowed their relationship.
“Can I give you a hug; can you give me a nice smile?” Gasperini asked Lookman, according to Football Italia, in what seemed to be a gesture of reconciliation following their dispute last month after Atalanta’s Champions League exit.
Lookman, who netted his 50th Serie A goal in the match, had faced strong criticism from Gasperini after missing a penalty in Atalanta’s 3-1 defeat to Club Brugge on February 18.
The 27-year-old’s goal against Juventus marked his 13th in Serie A this season, taking his total to 18 across all competitions, surpassing his tally from the previous campaign.
Atalanta’s Statement Victory
Atalanta’s emphatic win inflicted Juventus’ worst home defeat since 1967 and propelled La Dea three points ahead of Thiago Motta’s side in the race for third place, keeping their distant Scudetto hopes alive.
Mateo Retegui opened the scoring in the 35th minute from the penalty spot after Weston McKennie handled the ball in the box.
Marten De Roon doubled Atalanta’s lead early in the second half, finishing off a rebound after Lookman’s powerful shot was initially saved by Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio.
Davide Zappacosta extended the lead with a well-worked goal, linking up brilliantly with Sead Kolasinac. Lookman then capitalized on Dusan Vlahovic’s slip in midfield, racing through to score Atalanta’s fourth goal in the 75th minute.
Lookman’s Redemption and Captaincy Honour
The victory was particularly meaningful for Lookman, who had failed to win in his previous five meetings with Juventus, recording four draws and one defeat while contributing two goals and one assist against them.
Following the match, Gasperini acknowledged Lookman’s importance to the team and revealed that the Nigerian would wear the captain’s armband for the remainder of the season.
“When a group spends 300 days together in a year, people can have different views,” Gasperini said in his post-match press conference, as reported by Football Italia.
“Lookman became a fantastic player when he improved his perception of the team. He used to have a more individual approach.”
“He wasn’t a bad guy, but he mostly focused on the individual. He made Atalanta great, and Atalanta made him great. I am convinced he can be the captain before the end of the season.”
Fallout and Speculation Over Lookman’s Future
The reconciliation follows a public dispute after Atalanta’s Champions League exit, when Gasperini labelled Lookman “one of the worst penalty-takers I’ve ever seen.”
Ademola Lookman had taken a penalty, which was saved by Simon Mignolet, despite Gasperini’s claim that he was not the designated taker.
later contradicted Gasperini’s version of events, stating that the designated penalty taker had instructed him to take the spot-kick.
The coach’s criticism sparked widespread backlash among supporters, who pointed out that he had not similarly condemned Retegui for crucial penalty misses or captain Rafael Toloi for his red card in the same match.
The controversy led to speculation about Lookman’s future at Atalanta, with reports suggesting interest from multiple Premier League clubs.
However, his form continues to impress, and his most memorable contribution remains his hat-trick in last season’s Europa League final, where Atalanta defeated the previously unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen to claim their first-ever European trophy.
Lookman’s stellar performances earned him the 2023 CAF African Player of the Year award, and he remains one of the continent’s standout players this season, with 25 goal contributions in 31 matches across all competitions.
Next Challenges for Ademola Lookman and Atalanta
As Atalanta push for Champions League qualification and an outside shot at the Serie A title, the restored harmony between their star forward and veteran coach comes at a crucial time. Their next match sees them host Fiorentina at the Gewiss Stadium on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Lookman has been named in Nigeria’s final 23-man squad for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month under new Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle.
