New Atalanta head coach Raffaele Palladino has described Ademola Lookman as a central figure in the project he hopes to build in Bergamo, Soccernet.ng reports.
Palladino, who replaced Croatian manager Ivan Jurić, was presented to the media on Wednesday and will take charge of his first match on Saturday away to champions Napoli.
The 41-year-old, who previously managed Fiorentina, spoke with confidence and calm authority as he outlined his vision for a team that has gone seven Serie A matches 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,” he said.
Yet his biggest early challenge will be restoring harmony to a dressing room unsettled by Lookman’s stalled transfer saga.
The winger has struggled to recapture the dazzling form of previous seasons after Atalanta rejected a €45 million summer bid from Inter Milan, instead valuing him at €50 million. The fallout has since shaped much of the club’s turbulent start to the campaign.
Palladino admitted he has already spoken directly with the 28-year-old, who was on duty for Nigeria during the international break. The Italian manager offered reassurance while emphasising the need for sharp performances from Ademola Lookman in training.
“Lookman is crucial,” he 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.”
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Ademola Lookman: European giants prepare for transfer battle
Lookman’s situation has now attracted fierce interest from Turkey’s biggest clubs, Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, both of whom are preparing for a January bidding war.
His relationship with Atalanta deteriorated further in recent weeks following an explosive touchline row with Jurić during Atalanta’s Champions League fixture against Marseille on 5 November.
Although Jurić has since been dismissed, the managerial change has not instantly softened Lookman’s stance. The winger, contracted until 2027, is believed to be pushing for a fresh chapter, while Atalanta’s hierarchy privately acknowledge that a January sale is no longer off the table particularly with the player due to join Nigeria’s AFCON squad in December.
Galatasaray see Ademola Lookman as a marquee signing and hope to pair him with fellow Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen in an ambitious Nigerian-led attacking line. Reports in Turkey claim the club have offered a €9 million-per-year contract. Fenerbahçe remain equally keen, having lodged a proposal shortly after the Italian transfer window closed.
Interest extends beyond Turkey. Atletico Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur, both of whom attempted to sign Lookman last summer, are monitoring developments, with fresh approaches expected in January.
Atalanta may lower their €50 million valuation if Lookman’s form does not improve in the coming weeks, although Palladino’s staff are hopeful the player will respond positively to a fresh start under the new manager. The coming month will be decisive, both for Lookman’s future and Atalanta’s attempt to stabilise their season.