Former Barcelona and France center-back Samuel Umtiti has urged Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman to maintain his current trajectory following a masterful display in the Copa del Rey. Umtiti attended the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Thursday to witness Atletico Madrid dismantle his former club with a stunning 4-0 victory in the semi-final first leg. Lookman emerged as a central figure in the win, joining Julián Álvarez and Umtiti’s long-time international teammate Antoine Griezmann on the scoresheet to secure a massive advantage for Diego Simeone’s men.
The 2018 World Cup winner, who was present at the stadium performing punditry duties for DAZN, praised Lookman’s impeccable timing and decision-making on the pitch. After the final whistle, Griezmann personally presented Lookman’s match-worn jersey to Umtiti, acknowledging that the Nigerian international had become the primary focus of the evening. This performance marked Lookman’s first goals in front of the Atleti home supporters since his winter move, cementing his status as a key offensive weapon for the Madrid side.
“Keep going like this, you have to keep going,” said the two-time La Liga winner to Lookman. “Players like Antoine (Griezmann) are really smart, and Julian (Alvarez) is also very skilled with the ball. So you have to keep going,” Umtiti said again, encouraging the 2024 CAF Player of the Year to maintain good teamwork and play well with his teammates.
Lookman responded by highlighting the instinctive chemistry shared by the Atletico squad, crediting his teammates’ spatial awareness for his rapid integration into the team. Since arriving from Atalanta, the 28-year-old has enjoyed a prolific start to his Spanish career, accumulating two goals and two assists in just three appearances across all competitions. His ability to link up with established stars like Griezmann and Álvarez suggests that Simeone has found the perfect catalyst for Atletico’s late-season trophy push.
“I think all the players are really good at that, so they kind of know where everyone else is on the field,” Lookman said, praising the awareness of the Atleti players. “So, it’s mostly about knowing what to do and when to do it, which is nice to play with them.”
With the return leg scheduled for March at the Camp Nou, Atletico Madrid now carries a significant psychological and mathematical lead. Umtiti’s public endorsement serves as a testament to Lookman’s growing reputation on the European stage, particularly as he continues to outshine seasoned veterans in high-stakes fixtures. Fans and analysts now wait to see if Lookman can maintain this elite level of consistency as Atletico Madrid pursues their first Copa del Rey title in over a decade.
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