Atlético Madrid were active in the winter transfer window, securing two notable additions in Obed Vargas and, most prominently, Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman.

Lookman’s arrival at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano represents a significant coup for the Rojiblancos, who moved swiftly and decisively to prise the versatile forward away from under the noses of Fenerbahçe.

A leading figure in African football and a former African Footballer of the Year, Lookman finally brought an end to a protracted transfer saga with Atalanta that had lingered for a season and a half.

His move to Atlético Madrid signals the club’s intent to strengthen their attacking options with proven quality and experience.

Retired Venezuela international Alejandro Moreno believes Lookman offers a fresh attacking dimension that has often been absent from Diego Simeone’s side, a dynamic presence capable of unsettling defences with pace, direct running and the ability to glide past opponents, qualities the Nigerian possesses in abundance.

"We can talk about Rodrigo Mendoza and Obed Vargas if you so desire, but really the headliner in terms of the winter transfer is Ademola Lookman," Alejandro Moreno said on ESPN FC.

"And the reason as to why he is important and will be important for this team is that he changes the profile of this group offensively.

"You think about what Atletico Madrid has become at times, it's sort of Julian Alvarez kind of running around and then the big figure of Alexander Sorloth, who is not a guy who is going to beat anybody with speed."

Against Real Betis on his Atlético Madrid debut, Lookman used his blistering pace to expose defensive frailties as the hosts pushed forward in search of a result.

"It changes who they are offensively because now you have opportunities for counterattacks that were available before only through Giuliano Simeone," Moreno added.

"Now in combination play, actually if you break the initial first line of pressure, in this case Betis, you have in Lookman, a guy who can run in behind and you can get a counterattack opportunity that wasn't part of the makeup offensively of Atletico Madrid, so in that sense it makes a big difference for them.

"Ademola Lookman is a player who has the pace, has the speed but he is also quite inconsistent. He was very good against Real Betis and exposed some of the frailties that Betis had defensively, particularly when they chased the game, it opened more spaces for Lookman.

"That in itself is good for Atletico Madrid, and it gives Simeone yet another option offensively, it's a step forward not a leap forward." 

Should Lookman make his Spanish top-flight debut on Sunday, the 2017 Fifa U20 World Cup winner will set a new record as the first English-born player to feature in the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga and Serie A.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel