By Korede James
Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini has backed Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman to captain the club before the end of the season.
Lookman and Gasperini fell out after Atalanta were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League play-offs against Club Brugge recently.
The reigning African Player of the Year missed a penalty in the home clash, which Atalanta lost 3-1, leading Gasperini to label the Nigeria international one of the worst penalty takers he had ever seen.
Lookman took offence about Gasperini’s comment, describing it as disrespectful.
Since the falling out, the 27-year-old has gone on to score three goals in his last three games, with his latest strike coming in the 4-0 thrashing of Juventus in Sunday’s Serie A contest.
“When a group spends 300 days together in a year, people can have different views. Lookman became a fantastic player when he improved his perception of the team,” the 67-year-old Gasperini said in his post-match press conference.
“He used to have a more individual approach. He wasn’t a bad guy, but he mostly focused on the individual. He made Atalanta great, and Atalanta made him great. I am convinced he can be the captain before the end of the season.”
Lookman has scored 13 goals in 22 Serie A appearances this season, with Atalanta in third place in the league table, three points behind leaders Inter Milan.
