Ademola Lookman Roma links are gathering pace, with AS Roma monitoring the Super Eagles forward for a January move as his first full season at Atletico Madrid continues to stall. According to La Repubblica, via CalcioMercato, Roma have placed the 29-year-old on sporting director Tony D’Amico’s list as they look to refresh their attack in the winter window.
The report says Roma are keeping a close eye on Lookman’s situation, and that a move could materialise if his playing time at Atletico does not improve. There is no transfer request from the player and no bid yet, but the Italian club’s interest is real — and the player is said to be ready to weigh up his options if he remains on the fringes in Madrid.
Ademola Lookman Roma: Gasperini wants his old forward back
A move to the Stadio Olimpico would reunite Lookman with Gian Piero Gasperini, the coach who turned him into one of Europe’s most feared forwards at Atalanta. Under Gasperini, Lookman scored 55 goals and provided 27 assists in 137 games — including the hat-trick in Dublin that won Atalanta the 2024 Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen.
The pair did not always see eye to eye in Bergamo, and their relationship included more than one heated exchange. But Lookman developed markedly under Gasperini, and the Roma coach is said to have his former forward in mind as he looks to complete his attack. Roma are also in the market for Real Madrid youngster Endrick, who was linked with Arsenal earlier this week.
Why Ademola Lookman Roma’s Atletico minutes have dried up
Lookman joined Atletico last January for €35 million plus €5 million in bonuses, on a contract running to 2030 and a salary reported at around €6 million gross a year. He scored nine goals in 24 matches between his arrival and May, but this season has brought just two goals and one assist in 15 appearances across LaLiga and the Champions League.
He has started nine league games but none in Europe, and he has slipped behind Álex Baena in Simeone’s pecking order on the left. Against Barcelona on Sunday, he was an unused substitute for the first time this season — even though Simeone still had a change available while his side chased an equaliser in the 2-1 defeat.
Spanish paper Marca has reported that nobody at Atletico has lost faith in the Nigerian, and Simeone still considers him an asset. But the same reports are clear that he is no longer untouchable — and Atletico will only let one of Lookman or Juventus target Alexander Sørloth leave in January, and only once a replacement has been found.
What a Roma move would mean for the Super Eagles
For now, Lookman’s focus is on Nigeria. He is in camp in Uyo with the Super Eagles, who now have a full house of 24 players for Friday’s 2027 AFCON qualifier against Tanzania at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium. A return to form — and to the goals — in the green and white would be the best possible answer to a difficult few months in Madrid.
A January switch to Roma, where he would work again with the coach who got the best out of him, could also revive a season that has stalled. First, though, there is a qualifier to win — and Chelle will be counting on the player who delivered a hat-trick in a European final to rediscover that touch in Uyo. For more on the qualifiers, check today’s predictions.
Spanish paper AS has separately linked Lookman with a swap deal involving Fenerbahçe’s Marco Asensio, although there is no official word from either club that any agreement is close.
Photo: Stepro, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) — collage by SportsBuddy.
