Atletico: Lookman, looking good

After a long spell at Atalanta Bergamo against his will, Ademola Lookman has finally taken a step up by joining Atletico Madrid this winter. It didn’t take long for the Nigerian striker to show that he was cut out for a team of this calibre.

Stuck at Atalanta Bergamo despite his regular attempts to leave in recent months, Ademola Lookman finally found a way out this winter, signing for Atlético Madrid in a transfer estimated at €40 million.

Scoring against Club Brugge (3-3) on Wednesday in the first leg of the Champions League play-off, the Nigerian striker confirmed his thunderous debut with his new club, which is surely delighted with this investment.

His first half of the season equalled in 16 days

His spectacular first appearance for Atlético, on the pitch at Betis Sevilla (5-0) in the Copa del Rey, three days after his transfer, was therefore no flash in the pan. In just five matches in all competitions for the Colchoneros, Lookman has already equalled his statistics for the entire first half of the season with Atalanta (in 19 matches).

It took him just 16 days to achieve this feat. Lookman has already scored three goals and provided two assists for the Madrid club, including one goal and one assist against the Andalusians in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, then the same tally against FC Barcelona (4-0) in the semi-final first leg, before scoring his first European goal with his new club on Wednesday in Belgium.

A disruptive profile needed

Lookman quickly found his feet, much to the delight of coach Diego Simeone, who is happy to have a more explosive and impactful player at his disposal than his other attacking options. ‘He has different characteristics from our other forwards. He is more of a one-on-one specialist than a team player, although he has that too, and he immediately had a very good impact on the team,’ the Argentine coach said at a press conference.

At 28, the Super Eagle is finally making his way to the very top, after long being seen as a promising player capable of shining in flashes but unable to prove his reliability over time. His experiences at Charlton, Everton, Leipzig, Fulham and Leicester led him to Atalanta, where he finally gained the maturity he needed over four years to establish himself at Atlético.