Tell us who you want — Atalanta coach makes joke relevant to Ademola Lookman's future

Atalanta coach Gian Pierro Gasperini inadvertently declared all his players available for sale in a witty remark to a journalist's question. 

The 67-year-old has been La Dea's manager since 2016 and has overseen player turnover on a large-scale basis. His latest remarks underscore the understanding of his club's culture. 

Atalanta will play Barcelona in the final round of Champions League first-phase fixtures tomorrow, and in the pre-match press conference, he was quizzed about the stars in the Blaugrana’s ranks, which he would like to cop. 

In his answer, Gasperini quipped that they were a selling club, and the questioner should instead identify players he wants from their club. “We don’t buy; we sell. You tell us who you want (laughs).”

This admission is pertinent to Ademola Lookman's future, as Atalanta reportedly blocked his move to Paris Saint-Germain last summer, with sources from France claiming the Parisiens felt lied to. 

Ahead of the January transfer window, La Dea were said to be open to parting ways with Lookman, as they prepared to replace the Nigerian with a young forward. Gasperini’s comments confirm the stance in a way that projects a willingness to sell any player, even the one that led them to their first-ever European title.