Diego Simeone has said he is happy with how Ademola Lookman has settled in at Atletico Madrid, but the manager wants to see more from the Super Eagles winger, Footynaija reports.
Lookman has been in stunning form since joining the Spanish capital from Atalanta on February 2.
In just five appearances, the 28-year-old has already scored three goals and provided two assists, matching the same tally he managed across 19 outings for Atalanta in the first half of the season.
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His contributions include a goal and an assist in a 4-0 Copa del Rey semi-final hammering of Barcelona, and his first Champions League goal for the club in a 3-3 draw against Club Brugge on Wednesday.
Yet despite the flying start, Simeone was measured in his praise ahead of Saturday’s LaLiga clash against Espanyol at the Metropolitano.
Simeone says he still wants more from Lookman at Atletico Madrid
“He is fitting in very well, fitting in with what the team needs. We also need more collective effort from him so he can help us defensively. To achieve that, we need to add to his already excellent attacking qualities and create a more collective work within the team, something we have always prioritised with all the players we have had,” the Argentine said via a report by El Desmarque.
The demand sums up the culture Diego Simeone has built at Atletico Madrid over 14 years, where players are expected to work hard without the ball, press high, and put the team before themselves.
Lookman, who won the 2024 CAF African Footballer of the Year award after firing Atalanta to the Europa League title with a hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen, appears well aware of what is required of him at his new club.
Atletico Madrid host Espanyol on Saturday before travelling to Bruges for the Champions League knockout playoff return leg on February 24, with the tie level at 3-3.
