Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has opened up on his plans for Ademola Lookman following the Super Eagles forward’s early days at the Wanda Metropolitano, Footynaija.com reports.
Lookman, who joined Los Colchoneros from Atalanta in a high-profile winter transfer, has wasted no time settling into life in Spain, making an immediate impression in his debut outing for the club.
The Nigeria international featured up top alongside Antoine Griezmann in a front two as Atleti dismantled Real Betis 5-0 in a dominant Copa del Rey display, underlining Simeone’s early tactical trust in the 28-year-old attacker.
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Lookman justified that faith in emphatic fashion, producing a goal and an assist in a commanding all-round performance that helped Atleti cruise into the semi-finals and sent a strong early message about his importance in Simeone’s plans.
However, speaking about the Super Eagles star’s integration into the squad, Simeone stressed that Lookman’s journey at the club is still in its early stages, with both player and team still learning how to best complement each other.
“Well, we’ll try little by little to get to know each other, him [Lookman] with the team and us with his characteristics, and obviously trying to have in his offensive characteristics that criterion he has for attacking,” he said, per Esto es Atleti.
“We’re going to search with the team for what best combines in consequence of what we need. We do not depend on Griezmann, Lookman, Sorloth and Julian. We depend on the whole team; the ball stopped. They are not only worth the goals of the forwards.”
How Simeone intends to utilize Lookman’s talents in the long term will come to light with time. For now, the focus is Sunday’s game against Real Betis, where the Super Eagles forward will be in contention to make his first appearance in La Liga.
