Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi admits the club will ‘respect his decision’ if Gian Piero Gasperini wants to walk away this summer, without waiting for the end of his contract following the Ademola Lookman row.
The trip to Empoli kicks off at the Stadio Castellani at 17.00 GMT.
The last few days have been very tense in Bergamo, as La Dea crashed out of the Champions League to Club Brugge in the play-off, then had to deal with the fallout from the public row between Gasperini and Lookman.
The coach responded angrily in a press conference to Lookman’s insistence on over-riding the agreed hierarchy and taking a penalty that he then missed, prompting the striker in turn to call his comments ‘disrespectful.’
Gasperini then hinted he would be leaving the club either this summer or when his contract is due to expire in June 2026.
Atalanta ready for future without Gasperini
“We are in a fantastic position in the league table, but the results this weekend confirm how difficult Serie A is, so we must have the utmost concentration. We want Atalanta to finish this season as protagonists, without regrets and getting as many points as possible,” Percassi told Sky Sport Italia.
“We’ve been with the coach for nine years, so these are matters we only ever addressed at the end of the season and not this early. It is because of our great rapport and affection for him that we will respect it if his decision is to not renew the contract. We will understand and have to deal with it.
“At the same time, there is a contract and any other issue will be discussed at the end of the season. Our objective is to be focused on the rest of the campaign.”
Does that mean Atalanta and Gasperini will not continue together until the contract expires in June 2026 if he decides not to extend?
“We need to focus on Empoli and the upcoming games, aiming to do what is best for the club and show respect for our fans.”
Did the row over Lookman prompt Gasperini to make those comments about his future with Atalanta?
“I don’t know, you’d have to ask him and fortunately you can speak directly with him, seeing as we have so many games. I think it is better to play football, because when speaking we can risk creating controversy to overshadow a campaign that has seen Atalanta be super protagonists.”
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