Super Eagles and Atalanta forward, Ademola Lookman, has finally responded to the criticism following Tuesday night’s Champions League match.
His missed penalty drew particular ire as Club Brugge shocked Atalanta with a 3-1 win on Italian soil.
That result clinched a 5-2 aggregate victory, propelling the Belgian side into the competition’s last 16.
Both the coach and the supporters were quick to single out Lookman, holding him largely responsible for the setback.
In an emotional statement, he expressed disappointment over being singled out despite his dedication to the club and the city of Bergamo.
“It saddens me on a day like this to have to write this statement—most of all because of what we have achieved together as a team and as a city,” he said.
The African best player in the statement, shared his frustration over the perceived lack of respect for his efforts.
“Being singled out in the manner I have been not only hurts but feels deeply disrespectful, not least because of the immense hard work and commitment I have always put in each and every day to help bring success to this club and to the incredible fans of Bergamo,” he added.
Reflecting on his time at the club, he admitted to facing numerous challenges, many of which he has kept private for the sake of team unity.
“In truth, I have dealt with many difficult moments during my time here, the majority of which I have never spoken about because, in my opinion, the team must always be protected and must come first. This makes what happened last night even more hurtful.”
The player clarified that he took the penalty on the instructions of the designated taker and did so with the team’s best interest in mind.
“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.”
Despite the setback, he remains determined to channel his struggles into motivation.
“Life’s about challenges and turning pain into power, which I’ll continue to do.”
With Atalanta and their fans reeling from the disappointment, his statement serves as both a defense of his actions and a message of resilience moving forward.
