AFCON 2025
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has apologised to Ademola Lookman for deploying him as a central striker in the club’s opening two La Liga matches of the 2026/27 season, admitting the position does not suit the Nigeria international.
Lookman started upfront in Atletico’s win over Malaga and their 2-2 draw with Villarreal at the Metropolitano, but he failed to find the net in either outing. Simeone explained after the Villarreal game that he turned to Lookman out of necessity, with Alexander Sorloth sidelined through injury and Julian Alvarez still working his way back to full fitness.
Speaking to reporters in the dressing room, Simeone confirmed he addressed the situation with Lookman directly. “I apologized to Ademola Lookman,” he said, acknowledging that asking the forward to lead the line stretched him away from his natural game.
Simeone went further in explaining his reasoning to the player, telling him plainly, “I know it’s not your place.” The manager framed the request as a short-term fix built around the club’s attacking injury crisis rather than a long-term positional switch for Lookman.
Alvarez, meanwhile, felt the frustration of Atletico’s home supporters during the Villarreal draw, drawing boos from the Metropolitano crowd amid continued speculation over his future. The Argentine has been repeatedly linked with a move away from the club, with Arsenal and Barcelona both mentioned as possible destinations before the transfer window closes on September 1
With Sorloth’s return date still uncertain and Alvarez managing his own fitness and transfer uncertainty, Simeone faces mounting pressure to settle on a clear system that allows Lookman to operate in his preferred role. How quickly Atletico resolve their attacking puzzle could shape both Lookman’s early-season numbers and the club’s La Liga title challenge.
