Atletico Madrid expresses concern regarding Lookman’s substantial international workload

Reports indicate that Atletico Madrid is dissatisfied with the Nigeria national football team’s use of Ademola Lookman during the March international break.

The Spanish club, which acquired the forward for €35 million following his impressive displays at the 2025 AFCON, has been careful with his playing time since he joined.

Under the guidance of manager Diego Simeone, Lookman has not yet finished a full match, with his longest stint being 73 minutes during a Copa del Rey victory against FC Barcelona.

In contrast, the winger played a significant role during international duty, participating for nearly the entire duration of two friendly matches—spending 89 minutes on the field against Iran and the full 90 minutes against Jordan.

Spanish media reports suggest that Atletico considers the workload to be excessive, particularly in light of the non-competitive nature of the fixtures.

The club is reportedly concerned that the increased playing time may affect the player’s fitness during a crucial period of the season.

Frustration exists within the club regarding the choice not to rotate the squad more during the friendlies, as Atletico feels it was a chance to manage player fitness more effectively.

These concerns arise in light of injury challenges within the squad, resulting in several key players being unavailable.

This has increased the pressure on Simeone as the team faces a challenging series of fixtures.

Atlético Madrid is preparing for a hectic schedule in the upcoming weeks, featuring several clashes with FC Barcelona, as well as matches against Sevilla FC, Real Sociedad, Elche CF, and Athletic Club—heightening worries about player fatigue and squad depth.