Brugge knocked Atalanta out with a 3-1 victory in Bergamo on Tuesday, securing a 5-2 aggregate win to advance to the round of 16.
Lookman, who was returning from injury, came off the bench at halftime and scored just moments after the second half began, sparking hopes for a comeback. Atalanta needed three more goals to equalize, but Lookman’s penalty was saved by Simon Mignolet in the 61st minute, causing those hopes to dwindle.
Gasperini didn’t hold back on who he thought was at fault.
“Lookman was not supposed to take that penalty, he is one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen,” he said post-match.
“He has a frankly terrible record even in training, he converts very few of them. (Mateo) Retegui and (Charles) De Ketelaere were there, but Lookman in a moment of enthusiasm after scoring decided to take the ball and that was a gesture I did not appreciate at all.”
Lookman took to X to express that such comments were “deeply disrespectful.”
“It saddens me on a day like this to have a to write this statement — most of all because of what we have achieved together as a team and as a city,” he stated.
“Along with our incredible fans, we as a team are hurting too with last night’s result. During the match the designated penalty taker instructed me to take the penalty; and to support the team I took responsibility in the moment to do so,” he continued.
“Life’s about challenges and turning pain into power which I’ll continue to do.”
Lookman made headlines last season by scoring a hat trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, ending their unbeaten run for the entire season.