Lookman has scored just once in ten appearances across all competitions after a difficult summer in which he was unable to secure a transfer despite interest from several top European sides.
The 28-year-old was reportedly on the radar of Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid, and a host of other clubs.
The Super Eagles star reportedly had a fallout with former Atalanta manager Ivan Juric during their 1–0 UEFA Champions League victory over Marseille, after he was substituted late in the match.
Juric was dismissed weeks later after a string of poor results, paving the way for Palladino’s appointment. Speaking to reporters, Palladino described Lookman as an important figure in his plans and emphasized the personal effort he has made to reconnect with the player.
"I have a huge belief in Ademola. He's a strong player who can make the difference,” he said as quoted by Tuttoatalanta.
“I called him personally while he was on the national team, as I did with all the others, because it's important for me to speak to each individual player and understand how they feel.
"He presented himself well upon his return, and I'll evaluate his deployment based on what I see in training and what the pitch tells me. But he's a player I'm banking on."
Lookman’s struggles have fueled rumours of a possible January exit, with clubs such as Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and other European sides reportedly monitoring his situation.
However, the Nigerian International will be keen to rediscover the form that once made him one of Atalanta’s key attacking threats as he begins a fresh chapter under Palladino.
Adeyemi Adewale
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