Palladino backs Lookman as Atalanta forward look to revive his form

‎Boluwatife Kehinde
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‎Atalanta’s new head coach, Raffaele Palladino, has expressed strong confidence and support for forward Ademola Lookman.
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‎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.
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‎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.
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‎“I have great faith in Ademola. He’s a powerful player who can truly make the difference,” Palladino said, as reported by TuttoAtalanta.
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‎“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.”
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‎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.”
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‎The Nigerian international will be hoping to turn his season around under the new manager.
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‎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.
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‎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.
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‎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.