Jose Peseiro: Ex-Super Eagles coach tells Atletico Madrid boss Lookman’s best position

Former Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro has advised Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone that the most effective way to utilize Ademola Lookman is as a second striker, Afrik-Foot reports.

​Lookman recently completed a €35 million transfer from Atalanta to the Spanish giants. Even before the move, Simeone had long been an admirer of the 28-year-old attacker. And now, the Super Eagles star must prove his mettle on the big stage.

​Lookman showed a glimpse of his potential on his debut, recording both a goal and an assist against Real Betis. However, he was unable to replicate that form in their recent La Liga encounter, where Atletico Madrid suffered a 1-0 defeat.

​Since his arrival at the Metropolitano, questions have emerged regarding his best position—whether he should be used as a wide player or through the middle as a striker or second striker.

Peseiro, who worked closely with the forward during his time with Nigeria, offered some advice to Atleti boss Simeone on how to maximize the new signing’s impact.

​Jose Peseiro’s Tactical Insight on Lookman

Ademola ​Lookman flourished under Peseiro at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, finishing the tournament as Nigeria’s standout attacker. So given their history, the Portuguese tactician is well-positioned to understand the player’s strengths.

​In a recent interview, Peseiro revealed that the Super Eagles star is most effective when playing as a striker or a second striker, rather than being confined to the flanks.

“On the wing he (Lookman) creates imbalance and makes good diagonal runs, but his best position is as a striker,” Peseiro told Marca.

“He’s very decisive when he’s in the inside channels and sees the space because that’s where he shoots, dribbles, or assists.

“His greatest strength is his footwork, although it’s true that he’s very strong in behind, as we saw in his debut; that’s another quality that can cause problems for Barcelona.”

Since his Atalanta days, the 28-year-old attacker has been used as an inverted winger or a second striker.

Then-coach Gian Pero Gasperini even noted his ability to arrive late into the box as a key asset which he learned to hone to devastating effect. Simeone has already started using Lookman in a similar role, and he will be hoping that the Super Eagles star delivers the good consistently.