LaLiga: Concern grows over Ademola Lookman's playing time under Simeone at Atlético Madrid

Concern is mounting implicit Ademola Lookman’s diminishing relation astatine Atlético Madrid aft Diego Simeone near the Nigerian planetary connected the seat for the full 2-1 location decision to Barcelona past weekend.

The determination has intensified scrutiny connected the narration betwixt the manager and the subordinate who was signed little than a twelvemonth agone to beryllium a cardinal attacking weapon.

With Atlético trailing 2-1 and needing width and invention, Simeone made lone 4 of his 5 permitted changes.

Alexander Sørloth, David Hancko, Johnny Cardoso and Jonathan David were introduced, but Lookman was not called upon.

The omission was peculiarly striking due to the fact that Barcelona had been forced to usage Frenkie de Jong astatine right-back, a script that appeared ideally suited to Lookman’s gait and one-on-one ability.

It was the archetypal clip this play that Lookman had not played a azygous minute.

Since arriving astatine the Metropolitano successful the January 2026 window, helium had featured successful 42 authoritative matches and had been near retired wholly lone twice, some times for rotation earlier Champions League ties.

Marca reports that Lookman is present lone the tenth-most-used subordinate successful Simeone’s squad, a important autumn for a guardant who was decisive successful the Copa del Rey and Champions League tally past season.

His dip has coincide...