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New Atalanta manager Raffaele Palladino has moved quickly to point out the importance of Ademola Lookman to his plans, insisting the Nigerian forward remains central to the project he hopes to build in Bergamo, Footynaija.com reports.
Palladino, appointed after the dismissal of Ivan Jurić, was unveiled on Wednesday and will lead his first match away to Napoli on Saturday.
Confident and upbeat, the 41-year-old spoke about reviving the club’s direction after a run of seven Serie A games without a win.
“I’m very happy to be here at Atalanta. It’s a great club, and I feel confident that my staff and I will do everything we can to take it to the top,” Palladino said, while confirming he has already reached out to Lookman and other internationals.
Lookman endured a difficult summer in which his relationship with Atalanta broke down following an awkward transfer saga.
The Nigerian international also had a face faceoff with Juric in the days leading to the dismissal of the Croatian manager.
However, Palladino is keen to start on a fresh page with Lookman.
“Lookman is crucial,” the new Atalanta boss said. “I called him, as well as all the others who were on national team duty. He presented himself very well. I’ll evaluate his role based on how he performs in training.”
Still, Lookman’s future remains uncertain after a strained summer in which Atalanta rejected Inter Milan’s €45 million offer, holding firm to a €50m valuation.
Interest in the winger continues to rise, with Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Tottenham and Atletico Madrid all monitoring developments ahead of the January window. Atalanta are expected to review his situation over the coming weeks, with a sale no longer ruled out.
