Atlético Madrid's Director of Men's Professional Football, Mateu Alemany, became an unexpected talking point after cameras captured his reaction to Ademola Lookman being substituted during Atlético's clash with Real Betis at the Metropolitano.

Lookman’s arrival in Madrid has been nothing short of whirlwind. In less than a week, the Nigerian forward landed in the Spanish capital, passed his medical, signed his contract, made a striking debut in the Copa del Rey, and earned consecutive starts.

His late-winter transfer, overseen by Alemany amid ongoing tension with head coach Diego Simeone, has meant that every move by the forward is under the microscope.

Earlier in the week, Alemany was seen beaming in the stands at La Cartuja after Lookman opened his Atlético account with a goal.

Sunday, however, told a different story. Television cameras caught Alemany in the VIP box twisting his face as Simeone opted to replace Lookman with Obed Vargas.

The brief moment quickly went viral on social media, sparking discussions among fans and pundits.

The incident feeds into a broader conversation about Atlético’s transfer approach. Alemany has consistently stressed that signings must clearly strengthen the squad, while Simeone has pushed for reinforcements during a grueling stretch with multiple competitions still ongoing.

Against this backdrop, new arrivals like Lookman are being watched closely.

While Lookman’s start was earned on the back of a promising cup performance, Atlético struggled for rhythm against Betis, and the forward couldn’t replicate the same spark.

His substitution, though tactical, only amplified attention on his integration into Simeone’s system.

Wale Adejumo