Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has refused to blame Ademola Lookman for the confusion surrounding his future after the forward missed the club’s opening Serie A game against Lecce.
Lookman featured in the UEFA Super Cup defeat to Real Madrid last week but was not included in the Bergamo-based club’s match-day squad for Monday’s league game, with reports suggesting he is close to securing a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.
Atalanta also missed the services of Teun Koopmeiners, who is pushing for a move to Juventus.
Despite the absence of the influential duo, Atalanta made light work of Lecce as they romped to a 4-0 victory.
Gasperini blames ‘strange' transfer window for Ademola Lookman saga
In the aftermath of the game, Gasperini bemoaned the confusion surrounding the future of Ademola Lookman, and expressed displeasure at the transfer window remaining open after the resumption of the league season.
“I owe a lot to… Lookman, (he has) a very sincere relationship with me. The bad thing is that these situations arise with the championship underway,” Gasperini said, as per Tutto Atalanta.
“Nobody likes these situations. In July (he) wouldn't have created these types of problems.
“Football is an entertainment and spectacle sport and we have to do it for the people. This is the madness of those who still allow these situations, otherwise it would have been resolved and the teams all defined before the championship.
“In that case we could have shown up at the start of the season with fans who know which team they are going to see. This is really something strange.”
Ademola Lookman helped Atalanta win the Europa League last season while scoring 17 goals and providing 10 assists in all competitions.
