Ademola Lookman: Why Super Eagles star could be set for shock Atletico exit

Ademola Lookman’s start to life at Atletico Madrid has turned from a promising arrival into a growing problem for Diego Simeone.

The Super Eagles forward was taken off at half-time in Atletico’s 1-0 win over Deportivo A Coruña on Saturday. It was the third La Liga game in a row in which he had been withdrawn at the break, following the 2-1 win at Alaves and the 1-0 win at Espanyol.

Simeone has been patient, but Lookman has completed 90 minutes of an Atletico game only once this season, in the opening-day win over Malaga, and the numbers behind that patience are getting harder to defend.

For a player who signed from Atalanta in February on a four-year contract, and who is among the club’s best-paid players, that is a difficult picture. If nothing changes, an early exit stops looking far-fetched.

Three half-time exits in a row

Lookman was replaced by Julian Alvarez at Alaves and again at Espanyol. At Alaves, he was one of two forwards taken off at the break, along with Jonathan David.

He had also been booked for a late challenge in the first half. In that game, the 2024 CAF Player of the Year completed 16 of 18 passes, but most went sideways or backwards, with only one forward pass landing in midfield. After the game, Simeone said:

“We were looking to manage the minutes, the effort; we needed legs.”

Against Deportivo, he played 45 minutes without a shot, without a clear chance created and without attempting a dribble.

AS reporter Jesus Colino revealed Ademola Lookman was the Atletico player who touched the ball the least, adding that his form continues to decline.

This was not new. Lookman was also taken off at half-time in the 1-0 win over Real Oviedo on 28 February, in what was then only his fourth start since arriving. Alvarez came on that day too, and scored the winner.

Simeone’s patience for Ademola Lookman and the Carrasco shadow

Simeone has been supportive, but also very clear in his demands. Before the Champions League win over Manchester United, he said:

“Every player goes through their own phases. Lookman will do well because he is a goalscorer”.

“He needs to keep dribbling,” the Argentine said.

That is the language of a coach who wants a winger who attacks defenders one-on-one and accepts the risk, the kind of left-sided threat Yannick Carrasco gave him for years, while remaining active in his defensive duties.

That is not what Lookman has been producing. His defensive problems are also an issue, one that Diego Simeone has reiterated several times.

Lookman’s Wages raise the stakes

Lookman’s gross fixed salary is €12.5m a year. That makes him joint second-highest paid at the club, level with Alvarez and Cristian Romero. Only Jan Oblak earns more.

At that level, a player is expected to start and finish games, not be removed at half-time.

Atletico fans have already shown their impatience. With a starting place now under threat from Alvarez, David and Baena, it is only a matter of time before questions will be raised about whether the investment is working.

What could happen next?

Lookman still has moments. He scored against Manchester United in the Champions League, and he assisted Alvarez in the 1-1 draw with Stuttgart.

Simeone also trusts him enough to start him regularly, as he’s started eight of 11 games.

The trend is the problem. If the half-time exits continue, and the minutes dry up, Atletico may have to consider whether the wing role Simeone wants is the one Lookman can play.

A summer move is the realistic worry, rather than anything in January. For now, Simeone is still backing him. Fans and the finance department may not wait much longer.