Ademola Lookman spent the whole of Atletico Madrid’s 2-1 defeat to Barcelona watching from the bench on Sunday — and the decision has raised fresh questions about how much faith Diego Simeone still has in his Super Eagles forward.
The Nigerian was an unused substitute at the Metropolitano even though Simeone still had a change available, with Atletico chasing the game after a Lopez brace had put Barcelona in control. It was a striking call from a coach who had publicly backed Lookman only days earlier, and it has fuelled a debate in Spain about the 28-year-old’s standing at the club.
Simeone’s public backing — then the snub
Lookman’s dip in form had already been a talking point in Madrid. After criticism of his display in the Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich, Simeone urged the forward not to lose heart, insisting hard work and belief would bring his best football back.
“I don’t want him to get frustrated because he’s not going through his best moment. This is work, this is believing in what you do,” the Argentine said.
Yet when Barcelona came to town, that backing did not translate into minutes. According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Simeone made only four substitutions despite Atletico needing a goal, leaving Lookman unused even with one change still in hand.
Alexander Sorloth, David Hancko, Johnny Cardoso and Jonathan David were all introduced in three separate phases, with David arriving in the 78th minute. Julian Alvarez, meanwhile, stayed on the pitch for the entire match despite jeers from sections of the home crowd.
Marca: ‘No one has lost faith’
Despite the growing concern over his playing time, Spanish newspaper Marca reports that Atletico have not lost faith in the former Atalanta forward.
“No one at Atletico Madrid has lost faith in Ademola Lookman. Both the coaching staff and the dressing room are united in their determination to help him rediscover his best form and, above all, regain his confidence and morale. Nobody doubts his ability, and his attitude has never been called into question,” the publication reported.
Some Atletico supporters have also rallied behind the Nigerian, with one fan arguing that Simeone, rather than Lookman, should shoulder the blame for the team’s struggles, while another questioned why the forward was not afforded the same patience shown to Alvarez, who has also endured difficult moments at the club.
The numbers underline why the snub stung. Lookman had featured in all 11 of Atletico’s LaLiga matches before the Barcelona game but has managed just one goal, scored in the 3-1 victory over Sevilla in August. He has also recorded one goal and one assist in four Champions League appearances this season.
What it means for the Super Eagles
The timing could hardly be worse for Nigeria. Lookman is back home for the international break and will be expected to lead the Super Eagles attack in Friday’s crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania in Uyo, with the return leg in Zanzibar on Tuesday, 17 November.
Eric Chelle named the forward in his 24-man squad for the double-header, and with Victor Osimhen sidelined after knee surgery, Nigeria need Lookman confident and firing. A strong week in Uyo would be the perfect answer to a difficult few days in Madrid — and the perfect reminder to Simeone of what the Super Eagles star can do.
For more on the qualifiers, check today’s predictions. For the background to the criticism that preceded the Barcelona game, read our report on Simeone’s public defence of Lookman after the Bayern defeat, and see how the Iheanacho snub debate has split former Super Eagles stars ahead of Friday’s game. The full story of the benching was first reported by PUNCH.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA) — collage by SportsBuddy
