‘He was very clear with me’ - Atalanta manager reveals conversation that made Lookman rediscover his form

The Nigerian forward had sought a move to Inter Milan, but the deal fell through, forcing him to remain in Bergamo. 

Upon his return to the squad in September, Lookman initially trained alone and struggled to regain his momentum.

However, the 28-year-old has recently hit a rich vein of form, finding the net in back-to-back games against Eintracht Frankfurt and Fiorentina.

Following Atalanta's 2-0 win against Fiorentina on Sunday, Palladino explained that a straightforward discussion with the player was instrumental in resolving any lingering issues from the failed transfer.

"With Lookman, I did exactly what I did with the rest of the team: I spoke individually," Palladino stated, as reported by Tuttoatalanta. 

"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."

The manager also commended Lookman's overall performance, highlighting his defensive work rate in addition to his attacking contributions.

"He's having a strong offensive phase, but I emphasise his defensive commitment: he's 100% in the game," Palladino added. "I'm happy for his goals; he's an essential asset."

Lookman's season tally now stands at three goals and one assist in 13 appearances across all competitions. 

As his form continues to improve, the forward aims to build on this momentum and once again showcase the talent that has endeared him to the fans at the Gewiss Stadium.