Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini has admitted that he mistakenly told the fourth official to take off Ademola Lookman instead of Ederson in their 1-0 loss to Lazio on Sunday. The error seemed to anger Lookman, who was substituted in the 74th minute of the game.
“Today was not my day. Just look at what happened with Lookman. Ederson was supposed to come out, but we got the number wrong on the substitution board,” Gasperini said after the game. The mistake may have impacted the team’s performance, as Lookman has been a consistent performer for Atalanta this season.
The loss to Lazio leaves Atalanta in third position, 10 points off Serie A leaders Inter Milan. With the title effectively out of reach, they also have to be careful in the top-four race, as they are just two points above fifth-place Juventus. Lookman’s exit from Atalanta seems imminent, with reports suggesting he will leave the club in the summer.
The mistake by Gasperini has added to the uncertainty surrounding Lookman’s future at Atalanta. Despite the setback, Lookman’s focus will now be on ending the campaign well and moving to a better club. The situation will be closely watched by fans and pundits alike, as Atalanta looks to regroup and refocus for the remainder of the season.
With key players like Lookman potentially leaving the club, Gasperini will need to make strategic decisions to ensure the team’s success in the remainder of the season.