Atalanta summit to calm Gasperini and Lookman argument | OneFootball

The Percassi family are due to hold a special summit to smooth things over between Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini and striker Ademola Lookman after their bitter public row.

According to Sky Sport Italia, both President Antonio Percassi and his son, CEO Luca Percassi, will be at the training ground in Bergamo on Thursday for a face to face meeting.

They hope to calm the split that erupted between the star player and his coach following the Champions League play-off exit to Club Brugge.

How Lookman-Gasperini row erupted at Atalanta

CAGLIARI, ITALY – DECEMBER 14: Atalanta’s coach Gian Piero Gasperini reacts during the Serie A match between Cagliari and Atalanta at Sardegna Arena on December 14, 2024 in Cagliari, Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)

Lookman made his comeback from injury at half-time with his team 3-0 down, 5-1 on aggregate, and scored a goal before he stepped up and saw his penalty saved by Simon Mignolet.

The Nigeria international has a notoriously poor record from the spot and was not one of the designated takers, so his insistence on going for goal irritated Gasperini.

“Lookman is one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen,” confessed the coach in a press conference.

Lookman responded via social media, warning he found these comments to be “disrespectful.”

Now Atalanta owners are trying to bring the pair back together, although even before that it was always likely that the striker would be sold in the summer.