Diego Simeone was impressed with Ademola Lookman’s performance on his debut for Atletico Madrid after they eased to an emphatic 5-0 win over Real Betis in the Copa del Rey on Thursday.
The Super Eagles attacker had joined the club earlier this week in a €40 million earlier in the week and was immediately put into action.
He enjoyed an impressive debut overall, giving the Atletico supporters a glimpse of his qualities in the 79 minutes he used on the pitch with a goal and an assist.
Speaking after the match, Simeone was impressed with the Super Eagles winger’s performance and believes he will flourish at the Spanish club.
“He’s a big lad, he’s already 28 years old!”, Simeone said.
“He came to help us, and we hope to help him too so that he can continue to grow.”
Atletico Madrid advanced to the semifinal of this season’s Copa del Rey after thrashing Real Betis away from home.
David Hancko set the tone for a big win with a 12th minute header from a Koke’s corner kick, before Giuliano Simeone added a second after Lookman was involved in the buildup.
Then came the historic moment as the Atletico number 22 opened his account for the club with the 100th goal of his career, beating two defenders and firing into the bottom corner.
The 28-year-old then provided the assist for Antoine Griezmann to score a fourth in the second half, while Thiago Almada rounded off scoring with a late fifth.
“He has different qualities to the players we have, and he will make us better.”
Atletico will find out their semifinal opponent in the draw on Friday, but attention will shift to Sunday’s La Liga battle against Real Betis once again.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
