Ademola Lookman Excited for Atletico Madrid Debut Ahead Of Real Betis Clash

Nigeria international Ademola Lookman has expressed his excitement as he prepares for his potential debut for Atletico Madrid, following his recent move from Serie A side Atalanta.

The winger trained with his new teammates for the first time on Tuesday, as Diego Simeone’s side stepped up preparations for Thursday night’s Copa del Rey quarter-final showdown against Real Betis. Lookman is widely expected to make his first appearance for the Spanish giants in the fixture.

Reflecting on his first training session, the forward said: “I trained with the whole team and it’s been fantastic, it’s good to get to know my teammates. If they give me the opportunity, I’ll be ready.”

Lookman completed a permanent transfer to Atletico Madrid on Monday and has signed a contract that runs until 30 June 2030. The deal was sealed on the final day of the winter transfer window, despite strong interest from Turkish Super Lig heavyweights Fenerbahce.

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo welcomed the arrival of the Super Eagles star, describing the move as the fulfilment of a long-held ambition for the player.

“He is a player sought after by major clubs, and the difference, due to a significant financial gap, has allowed him to come and play for us, which has been his dream for many years,” Cerezo said.

Away from football, Lookman has also been making headlines for his love of Nigerian music. When asked about his favourite musicians at his new club, the winger named Afrobeats heavyweights Burna Boy, Wizkid and Davido as his top three artists of all time.

“My Top Favourite artists of all time are Burna Boy, Wizkid and Davido,” he said.

Lookman joins a growing list of Super Eagles stars who openly celebrate Nigerian music. Players such as Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, Calvin Bassey and Victor Osimhen have previously named artists including Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, Asake, Rema and Olamide among their favourites. Osimhen has even revealed that he listens to Olamide’s songs for motivation before matches.