Lookman is an essential asset to us – Atalanta coach

Atalanta head coach Raffaele Palladino has hailed Ademola Lookman as an “essential asset” after the Nigerian forward continued his fine form with another goal in Sunday’s 2–0 Serie A win over Fiorentina.

Lookman has now scored in back-to-back league games for Atalanta, following his strike in last week’s 3–0 UEFA Champions League victory against Frankfurt. His resurgence comes after a turbulent summer in which he pushed unsuccessfully for a transfer away from the club and refused to participate in pre-season.

Despite the tension, Lookman has since been reintegrated into the squad and is beginning to rediscover his rhythm.

When asked how he managed to bring Lookman back into the team after the transfer saga, Palladino — quoted by TuttoAtalanta — said,

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“With Lookman, I did exactly what I did with the rest of the team: I spoke individually. A few words were enough, because he’s an intelligent guy who understands immediately.”

He added, “I was clear, he was very clear with me: we’re going in the same direction because we both want to take Atalanta as high as possible.”

Palladino also praised Lookman’s all-round contribution, “He’s having a strong offensive phase, but I emphasize his defensive commitment: he’s 100% in the game. I’m happy for his goals; he’s an essential asset.”

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