Atalanta head coach Raffaele Palladino has described Ademola Lookman as an essential asset to his team. Lookman was on target again, scoring in Atalanta’s 2-0 home win against Fiorentina in Serie A on Sunday. The Super Eagles forward has now scored in back-to-back matches for Atalanta, having netted in the team’s 3-0 victory against Frankfurt in the UEFA Champions League last week.
It was a hectic summer transfer period for Lookman, who sought a move away from the former Europa League champions, which ultimately did not materialise. This caused significant issues for Lookman as he refused to participate in the club’s pre-season. He has since been reintegrated into the side and is beginning to regain his form.
When asked how he managed to reintegrate Lookman after the transfer turmoil, Palladino, as quoted by TuttoAtalanta, said: “With Lookman, I did exactly what I did with the rest of the team: I spoke to him individually. A few words were enough, as he’s an intelligent guy who understands quickly.
“I was clear, and he was very clear with me: we’re heading in the same direction because we both want to take Atalanta as high as possible. He’s having a strong offensive phase, but I emphasise his defensive commitment: he’s 100% in the game. I’m happy for his goals; he’s an essential asset.”
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