Atletico Madrid are reportedly dissatisfied with how Ademola Lookman was deployed by Nigeria national football team during the March international break.
The Spanish club, who signed the forward for €35 million after his standout performances at the 2025 AFCON, have been cautious with his playing time since his arrival.
Under manager Diego Simeone, Lookman has yet to complete a full match, with his longest appearance lasting 73 minutes in a Copa del Rey win over FC Barcelona.
In contrast, the winger was heavily involved on international duty, featuring almost the entire duration of two friendly matches—playing 89 minutes against Iran and the full 90 minutes against Jordan.
Reports from Spanish media indicate that Atletico view the workload as excessive, especially given the non-competitive nature of the fixtures.
The club are said to be worried that the extended minutes could impact the player’s fitness during a critical phase of the season.
There is also frustration within the club over the decision not to rotate the squad more during the friendlies, with Atletico believing it was an opportunity to manage player fitness more effectively.
These concerns come amid injury challenges within the squad, which have left several key players unavailable.
This has added to the pressure on Simeone as the team navigates a demanding run of fixtures.
Atletico Madrid are set for a busy schedule in the coming weeks, including multiple encounters with FC Barcelona, alongside matches against Sevilla FC, Real Sociedad, Elche CF, and Athletic Club—raising further concerns about player fatigue and squad depth.
The post Atletico Madrid Concerned Over Lookman’s Heavy International Workload first appeared on Africa Top Sports.
