Former Shooting Stars coach Fatai Amoo is convinced that Ademola Lookman is only beginning to show what he can do at Atlético Madrid after an explosive first few months in Spain, Soccernet.ng reports.
Lookman arrived in the Spanish capital during the January 2026 transfer window following a brilliant spell with Atalanta BC, and he has already become one of the most important attacking players in Diego Simeone’s squad.
The Nigeria international has scored eight goals in all competitions since the move and has delivered important moments in La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League.
Lookman announced himself in style on his Atlético debut against Real Betis in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals, scoring once and providing an assist in a crushing 5-0 victory. He followed that with another goal and assist against FC Barcelona in a stunning 4-0 semi-final first-leg win.
He also scored in the Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad, although Atlético eventually lost on penalties.
In Europe, the winger produced another major contribution by scoring against Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-final second leg as Atlético progressed on aggregate. In La Liga, he opened the scoring against CA Osasuna with a composed 15th-minute finish in a 2-1 away victory at El Sadar.
Speaking with Completesports.com, Amoo said Lookman’s smooth adaptation to Spanish football did not surprise him because of the level he had already reached in Italy.
“I have no doubt that Lookman will succeed in La Liga, going by what he has done at Atalanta.
“I am also not surprised with his impressive display for Atletico Madrid despite arriving in the January transfer window.
“He has indeed shown that he can excel in any league, and based on what he has done this season for Atletico Madrid, I believe his best will be on display when the new season commences.”
Lookman: Bigger than previous Atlético January signings
The excitement around Lookman in Madrid is not based only on style or flair. The numbers place him ahead of some of Atlético’s biggest names of the Simeone era.
With eight goals and four assists in his first 22 appearances, Lookman has already surpassed the early returns produced by Diego Costa, Fernando Torres and Álvaro Morata after their winter arrivals.
Costa scored seven goals in 23 matches during his 2018 return to Atlético, while Torres managed six goals in 26 appearances after rejoining the club in January 2015.
The Nigerian has averaged a goal involvement every 104 minutes, a better return than Costa’s 133-minute average during his comeback spell.
That efficiency has strengthened the growing belief inside the club that sporting director Mateu Alemany may have completed one of Atlético’s smartest transfer deals in years after paying €35 million, plus €5 million in add-ons, to bring Lookman from Bergamo.
His rise in Spain has continued the remarkable form he showed in Italy. During two-and-a-half seasons with Atalanta, Lookman produced 50 goals and 21 assists in 109 matches. He became the club’s attacking leader, particularly during the 2023/2024 campaign when he scored a historic hat-trick against Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the Europa League final to secure Atalanta’s first major European trophy.
That run also helped him finish 14th in the Ballon d'Or rankings.
Now in Madrid, Lookman appears to have carried the same confidence, pace and directness into Simeone’s demanding system. If the winger can produce these numbers after arriving midway through the season, Atlético supporters may witness an even more dangerous version of the Super Eagles star when the new campaign begins.
