Atalanta head coach, Raffaele Palladino, has hailed Ademola Lookman as a crucial figure for the team.
The Super Eagles forward found the net once again in Atalanta’s 2-0 victory over Fiorentina at home on Sunday, marking his second consecutive game scoring for the Serie A side.
Lookman had also been on target in Atalanta’s 3-0 UEFA Champions League triumph against Frankfurt last week, continuing his impressive run.
The summer transfer window was a turbulent period for Lookman, who had sought a move away from the former Europa League champions, a move that ultimately fell through.
This dispute led to him skipping the club’s pre-season.
However, he has since been fully reintegrated and is beginning to regain his rhythm on the pitch. On how he managed to bring Lookman back into the fold after the transfer saga, Palladino told TuttoAtalanta:
“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.
“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.
“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.”
