Atlético de Madrid sign Ademola Lookman to challenge Julián Álvarez | OneFootball

Atlético de Madrid is going through one of its worst football moments in recent years. Third in La Liga, ten points behind leaders Barcelona, and in the Champions League Playoffs where they will face Brugge, the Colchonero is about to finalize the signing of Ademola Lookman as reinforcement to compete in attack with Julián Álvarez, who is going through a long goal drought.

According to European media, only a few details remain before the team managed by Diego Simeone officially announces the purchase of the 28-year-old Nigerian from Atalanta of Italy’s Serie A for a sum close to 40 million euros.

This Sunday, the player was left out of the squad list for the Bergamo side’s match against Como, which ended in a goalless draw after Nico Paz missed a penalty, due to ongoing negotiations for his departure. Although he had lost his starting spot, he was wanted by Fenerbahce, but Atleti sped up negotiations in the last few hours and managed to secure his signing.

Lookman rose to fame when he was the standout player for Atalanta in the 2024 Europa League final. The Bergamo side faced Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen for the title, a team that had won the Bundesliga without losing a single match, but the Nigerian forward scored a hat-trick in the 3-0 victory that gave the trophy to the Italians.

Now, he will join Atlético de Madrid, who recently drew 0-0 with Levante and remain concerned about Julián Álvarez’s drought, as he hasn’t scored since December 9th against PSV in the Champions League—ten matches ago—and hasn’t found the net in La Liga since November 1st, in the 3-0 win over Sevilla.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.