Is Palladino’s midas touch about to unleash the best of Ademola Lookman for Atalanta and Nigeria?

Atalanta may finally be on the brink of ending the long-running standoff with Ademola Lookman as newly appointed manager Raffaele Palladino steps in to repair what had become one of Serie A’s most fractured relationships, Soccernet.ng reports.

Lookman and the Bergamo club had drifted into open conflict over the summer, after Atalanta blocked his proposed move to Inter Milan.

The Italian giants reportedly put forward an offer worth around €45 million, but Atalanta refused to even open the door for negotiations. For Lookman, it was the final breaking point.

This was not the first time Atalanta had halted a major opportunity for the Nigerian international. Just a year earlier, a potential switch to Paris Saint-Germain was similarly shut down.

Matters worsened when then-manager Gian Piero Gasperini attacked Lookman in the media following a missed penalty in a Champions League match.

Gasperini’s departure to AS Roma in the summer was expected to calm the situation, but Lookman had already made up his mind. He submitted a formal transfer request and archived every Atalanta-related image from his Instagram account.

When the club still refused to sanction his exit, tensions escalated further. Lookman went AWOL, missing training sessions and the full preseason under new manager Ivan Juric.

Though he eventually returned and was slowly reintegrated into the squad, the early damage lingered. Rusty, off-rhythm, and visibly unsettled, the 28-year-old managed just one goal in ten matches across Serie A and the Champions League.

A touchline argument between Lookman and Juric further deepened the divisions. Juric attempted to downplay the incident afterwards, but results deteriorated and Atalanta eventually dismissed him during the last international break. Lookman was away on national duty as Nigeria navigated tense World Cup playoff ties against Gabon and DR Congo.

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New era, new trust, new Ademola Lookman?

Atalanta moved quickly to appoint former Fiorentina coach Raffaele Palladino, and the early signs suggest a decisive shift in Lookman’s fortunes.

Palladino’s first move was to reach out directly. He phoned Lookman during the break and held what both sides described as positive discussions. At his unveiling this week, Palladino went further, speaking warmly about their interaction and signalling a commitment to rebuild the relationship from the ground up.

“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.”

For a player who had spent months feeling marginalised, Palladino’s words and his personal outreach appear to have resonated.

Lookman has now restored Atalanta references to his social media bio, reinstating club photos and colours he previously removed in protest. It is a clear indication that bridges are being rebuilt.

If Lookman’s mindset is refreshed and his confidence restored, Atalanta could be the biggest beneficiaries. The club sits 13th in Serie A with just 13 points from 11 games, a worrying return for a side with top-four ambitions. A firing Lookman, at his dynamic best, could transform their season.

Nigeria, too, will be watching closely. Lookman endured a difficult spell as the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, but the Africa Cup of Nations begins in a few weeks and his form could be decisive. He played a major role in leading Nigeria to the final of the last AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire.

A revitalised Lookman could be central to Nigeria’s push for a first continental title since 2013.