Nigerian football fans have flooded social media to mock Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini after Ademola Lookman scored two goals in his side’s commanding 5-0 victory over struggling Empoli at the Stadio Carlo Castellani on Sunday.
The Super Eagles forward's brace comes just days after Gasperini openly criticised him for missing a penalty in Atalanta’s UEFA Europa League clash against Club Brugge, igniting a public exchange between the two.
Lookman’s two goals on Sunday took his tally to 12 in Serie A this season from 20 appearances, while he has now netted 20 times across all competitions.
In the aftermath of the match, Nigerian fans seized the moment to fire back at the Italian coach, flooding social media with reactions to Lookman’s match-winning performance.
One fan criticised Gasperini for his cold reaction to Lookman’s substitution, accusing him of ignoring the Nigerian despite his match-winning brace.
Another fan highlighted the double standards black players face in Italy, noting how Lookman’s brilliance was overlooked while his mistakes drew heavy criticism.
One fan admitted they always check if Lookman is the scorer whenever Atalanta finds the net, celebrating only when it’s him.
Since returning from injury, the 27-year-old has been in fine form, netting three goals in two matches.
The victory sees La Dea climb to third place in the Serie A standings with 54 points from 26 games, trailing league leaders Inter Milan by three points and sitting just two points behind second-placed Napoli.
