Atlético Madrid have reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle, managed forward Ademola Lookman during the recent international break.
According to Spanish outlet AS, the La Liga side raised concerns after Lookman featured for the full 180 minutes across Nigeria’s two friendly matches against Jordan and Iran.
Lookman, who recently joined Atlético from Atalanta during the winter transfer window, played the entire 90 minutes in Nigeria’s 2–1 victory over Iran and followed it up with another full outing in the 2–2 draw against Jordan in Antalya, Turkey.
The Spanish club is said to view the decision to deploy the attacker for the entirety of both non-competitive fixtures as excessive, particularly at a crucial stage of the European season.
Sources indicate that Atlético’s technical team is focused on closely managing Lookman’s workload as the campaign enters its decisive stretch, with commitments in La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League.
Since arriving in Madrid, Lookman has quickly established himself as an important figure in Diego Simeone’s squad. The Nigerian international has scored five goals and provided four assists in 14 appearances across domestic and European competitions.
His form has made him a key component of Atlético’s attacking plans, increasing the club’s sensitivity to any potential injury or fatigue concerns.
Club insiders reportedly fear that the heavy minutes logged during the international break could lead to fatigue or increase the risk of injury, potentially affecting Atlético’s pursuit of silverware in multiple competitions.
READALSO: Raúl García hails Ademola Lookman’s explosive Atlético Madrid start
While international managers often rely heavily on key players in friendly matches to build cohesion and test tactical systems, European clubs typically prefer moderated minutes to safeguard players’ fitness during intense league runs.
Neither Atlético Madrid nor the Nigeria Football Federation has issued an official statement on the matter as of the time of filing this report. However, the episode highlights the recurring tension between club and country over player workload management during international windows.