Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has explained the key areas the club is working on to support the development of Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman.
Lookman was on target in the Madrid derby against Real Madrid, opening the scoring for Atletico, although Diego Simeone’s side eventually fell to a 3-2 defeat.
Speaking after the game, Simeone praised the Nigerian’s steady progress, work ethic and growing importance to the team.
“Well, Lookman is improving, he’s been working very hard. The thing is, he’s been playing in different attacking roles, and we need him to do that,” Simeone said.
The Atletico boss added that the club is also helping the forward improve the defensive side of his game so he can contribute more effectively within the team’s structure.
“We’re also helping him get better at defending so he can support our team’s defense. He’s already able to do that because he’s a young player with a big heart and a strong desire to learn and get better.
“So that’s fantastic, and hopefully he’ll continue to contribute important moments like he did today.”
Simeone’s comments underline Atletico’s intention to turn Lookman into a more complete and versatile player, capable of making an impact both in attack and in the team’s defensive organisation.
The Nigerian international has continued to grow in influence, and his goal in the derby offered another glimpse of the quality he can bring in big moments despite Atletico ending up on the losing side.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
