Ighalo and Lawal Back Ademola Lookman for Success at Atletico Madrid

Former Nigeria internationals Odion Ighalo and Garba Lawal have expressed their full confidence that Ademola Lookman will become a pivotal figure at Atletico Madrid following his high-profile January move.

Lookman, a former African Footballer of the Year, joined the Spanish giants from Atalanta on a four-and-a-half-year deal. He has wasted no time making an impact, recording five goal involvements in just five appearances across all competitions. His early highlights include scoring on both his Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League debuts for the club.

Odion Ighalo, the former Manchester United and Super Eagles striker, believes the tactical environment at Atletico is ideal for Lookman’s development.

“Moving to La Liga is a good step for his career because he performed well in Italy, and now he has joined one of the big clubs in Spain,” Ighalo said. “I think that playing under Diego Simeone will be very beneficial for him because he is a very tactical and intelligent coach.”

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Garba Lawal similarly praised the winger’s seamless integration into the team, describing him as a “wonder boy.” Lawal noted that Lookman’s performance against Club Brugge showed he is already building strong chemistry with his new teammates.

“He’s at the right age and period of his career, and to play for a big club like this in a competition like the Champions League is great. He’ll definitely score more goals before the end of the season,” Lawal added.

Lookman arrived in Spain with a formidable reputation, having contributed to 82 goals in 137 appearances during his time at Atalanta. While he is still searching for his first La Liga goal after two league outings, his explosive start in cup competitions has already made him a fan favorite in Madrid.