Atalanta co-owner Stephen Pagliuca has acknowledged that head coach Gian Piero Gasperini “made a mistake” in publicly criticizing Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman but reiterated his confidence in the Italian manager’s passion and coaching abilities. The controversy stemmed from Gasperini’s harsh comments about Lookman after the player missed a crucial penalty in Atalanta’s Champions League match against Club Brugge, with the coach calling him “one of the worst” penalty-takers.
In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Pagliuca addressed the situation, emphasizing the club’s collective approach to handling setbacks.
“We want to put this situation behind us, and I think we have, considering the 5-0 victory against Empoli,” Pagliuca said. He added, “These matches are always intense. We love the passion with which they are played. We have a great coach, very passionate. He made a mistake by speaking about an individual. At Atalanta, with the Percassi family, we have a policy: if things go wrong, we take responsibility. We look at ourselves and how to improve.”
Pagliuca also praised Lookman’s contributions to the team, highlighting the importance of unity and resilience.
“The players are having an extraordinary season; we wouldn’t be where we are now without the contributions of Lookman, De Ketelaere, and the whole team,” he said. “I should name them all. We faced Brugge without five key players, all injured. Gasperini’s reaction was emotional and unfortunate, and it was a mistake that went against our policy—something we are not proud of. But I repeat, Gasp remains a great coach.”
The co-owner’s comments come amid speculation about Gasperini’s future at Atalanta. The 66-year-old manager has stated he will not sign a contract extension, meaning he could leave the club as early as the end of this season or in 2026 when his current deal expires.
