Diego Simeone has admitted he owes Ademola Lookman an apology after deploying the Nigeria international as an out-of-position striker in Atletico Madrid’s opening two La Liga fixtures of the season.
The Argentine coach made the confession following his side’s 2-2 draw with Villarreal on Sunday, a result that left Lookman still searching for his first goal of the 2026-27 campaign. Consequently, the admission has reopened questions about where exactly the Super Eagles forward fits into Simeone’s attacking plans.
Lookman has been forced into a central striking role in both of Atletico’s opening matches, first against Malaga and then against Villarreal, largely because of circumstances beyond his control.
Alexander Sorloth has been sidelined through injury, while Julian Alvarez is only just returning to full fitness after uncertainty over his future at the club. As a result, Simeone turned to Lookman to fill the void, despite the position sitting far outside the Nigerian’s natural game.
Speaking after the Villarreal draw, Simeone revealed that he addressed the issue with Lookman directly and privately.
According to comments carried by Futbol Fantasy, Simeone said he apologised to the forward in the locker room, telling him he knew the striker role was not his natural place but that he was needed there because Sorloth was injured and Alvarez was still working his way back as detailed by That single admission has since become the dominant talking point around Lookman’s slow start to the season.
Beyond the apology, Simeone was keen to stress that the experiment was born out of necessity rather than a long-term tactical shift. The Atletico boss pointed out that Lookman’s real strengths lie elsewhere entirely, and that stationing him as a central striker denies the team the qualities that made him such an effective attacker last season.
Furthermore, [Into the Calderon] reported Simeone taking personal responsibility for the situation, acknowledging that Lookman struggles when forced to play with his back to goal rather than facing it, which is where his one on one ability usually thrives.
Meanwhile, Simeone promised that things would change once his senior forwards return to full fitness and availability. He indicated that Lookman would be moved back into the wide or second striker roles that better suit his dribbling and goal threat, positions he occupied for large stretches of last season after arriving from Atalanta in January. Until then, however, the coach suggested the club simply does not have the attacking options to spare him the central role.
Lookman’s positional discomfort at club level is worth monitoring closely, particularly with Nigeria’s World Cup qualification push and upcoming international fixtures on the horizon. As reported by
Lookman’s underlying game is built around dribbling at defenders and scoring from wide or second striker positions, the very qualities that fired him to nine goals and four assists in his first half season at the club. Consequently, a prolonged spell as an isolated number nine risks blunting the sharpness Nigeria has come to rely on from their reigning African Footballer of the Year.
However, there is a silver lining for Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle. Lookman’s willingness to sacrifice his preferred role for the team, coupled with his continued effort despite the mismatch, reflects the same selfless attitude he has often shown in national colours.
As a result, once he returns to his more natural attacking positions at club level, Nigeria could benefit from a sharper, more confident version of their star forward heading into crucial fixtures.
Atletico Madrid will be hoping that Sorloth’s recovery from injury and Alvarez’s continued reintegration ease the pressure on Lookman in the coming weeks. Once that happens, Simeone has made clear his intention to restore the Nigerian to the wide and second striker roles where he has previously flourished.
In the meantime, Lookman’s patience will be tested, though his manager’s public apology at least signals an acknowledgment that the current arrangement is temporary rather than a long-term tactical decision.
