Atletico Madrid have reportedly expressed concerns over the handling of Ademola Lookman by the Nigeria Football Federation following his involvement in recent international friendlies.

The Spanish club is said to be dissatisfied with Lookman’s extensive game time during Nigeria’s matches against Jordan and Iran, where the forward accumulated 180 minutes across both fixtures.

Lookman, who joined the Rojiblancos from Atalanta in the winter transfer window, featured prominently for the Super Eagles.

He played 90 minutes in Nigeria’s 2-1 victory over Iran before being substituted for Frank Onyeka, and also completed the entirety of the 2-2 draw against Jordan in Antalya, Turkey.

According to reports from Spanish outlet AS, Atletico Madrid view the decision to field the attacker for the full duration of both friendlies as excessive, particularly given the non-competitive nature of the matches.

The Nigeria international has been in outstanding form since his move to Spain, contributing five goals and four assists in 14 appearances across La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League.

Atletico Madrid are believed to be keen on carefully managing his workload as the season enters a decisive phase, with the club concerned that the heavy minutes logged on international duty could increase fatigue and injury risk, potentially affecting their push for silverware on multiple fronts.

Adeyemi Adewale