Boluwatife Kehinde
Atalanta’s new head coach, Raffaele Palladino, has expressed strong confidence and support for forward Ademola Lookman.
Lookman has endured a slow start to the campaign, scoring only once in ten matches across all competitions after a difficult summer in which he failed to secure a transfer despite interest from several major European clubs.
Speaking to the media, Palladino highlighted Lookman’s importance to his project and noted the personal effort he has made to re-establish a connection with the player.
“I have great faith in Ademola. He’s a powerful player who can truly make the difference,” Palladino said, as reported by TuttoAtalanta.
“I called him personally while he was with the national team—as I did with all the others—because it’s important for me to speak with each player individually and understand how they’re feeling.”
He added, “He returned in good condition, and I’ll decide how to use him based on what I see in training and what the pitch tells me. But he’s definitely a player I’m counting on.”
The Nigerian international will be hoping to turn his season around under the new manager.
This comes after Lookman’s reported conflict with former Atalanta coach Ivan Juric during their 1–0 UEFA Champions League win over Marseille on November 5.
His struggles have intensified speculation about a potential January move, with clubs such as Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, and several other European sides keeping an eye on his situation.
Beyond Turkey Lookman attract interest from Atlético Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur both of whom attempted to sign him in the summer are reportedly preparing renewed bids in January.
Palladino backs Lookman as Atalanta forward look to revive his form
