Ademola Lookman, the Nigerian forward who joined Atlético Madrid from Atalanta in the winter transfer window, has spoken candidly about his adaptation to life under Diego Simeone, his match-winning goal against FC Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League, and his admiration for teammates Antoine Griezmann and Julián Álvarez. The 28-year-old played a pivotal role in Atlético’s 3-2 aggregate victory over Barcelona, scoring a crucial goal in the second leg despite a 2-1 home defeat at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium. His strike came after Barcelona had taken an early lead through Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres, with Lookman finishing off a well-executed move that began with a precise pass from Marcos Llorente.
In an interview with ESPN, Lookman highlighted the importance of Griezmann’s touch in setting up the goal. “I think the pass to Griezmann makes the play and his touch is amazing,” he said. “So it opens the space for Marcos to run into and for me to just sprint as fast as I can to get to the end of the cross, which I did.” He also expressed deep respect for the French forward, calling him a football legend whose presence on and off the pitch has been invaluable. “Training with him every day, you think wow. There have been moments when I think, maybe he can stay a bit longer here. To be able to see that closer here is something that you appreciate. It is an absolute pleasure.”
Lookman praised Simeone’s demanding style of management, noting that the Argentine coach expects maximum effort in every aspect of the game. “More of everything, I think defending and attacking, helping the team in certain moments and being part of play,” he explained. “He demands more of me. For me, that’s a pleasure because you have somebody there pushing you.” He added that Simeone sees potential in him and wants him to reach higher levels, which motivates him to train harder and push his limits. “It is what I want to do. I want to be able to do more and I am looking forward to it.”
He also spoke highly of Julián Álvarez, describing the Argentine forward as a decisive player who consistently makes a difference. “He has the ability to make play but more often when he shoots he scores because he is decisive. A player who makes the difference. He is somebody you want to play with. He is somebody who helps the team and helps you.” Lookman also lauded La Liga’s technical quality, calling it a top-tier environment where every player values possession and skill. “It is nice and incredible. The technical capabilities of everyone here is top. With the ball, everybody wants to play a certain type of football here and everyone wants to get a feel of the ball, which is good. It is the game – how they see it. To me, it is the best way to play football.”
As Atlético Madrid advances to the Champions League semi-finals, Lookman’s performances continue to underline his growing influence in the squad. His contributions, both on and off the pitch, are shaping his journey as a key player in one of Europe’s most competitive leagues.
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