Ademola Lookman couldn’t hide his delight after a standout first appearance for Atlético Madrid, helping the team to a dominant 5–0 win over Real Betis in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.
The Nigerian forward made an instant impact, scoring a goal and assisting another, and was full of praise for how welcoming his new teammates have been.
Lookman shines on debut for Atletico Madrid
The Super Eagles forward joined Atlético Madrid from Atalanta during the winter transfer window, signing a contract reportedly worth up to €40 million.
He wasted no time proving his value, scoring Atlético’s third goal and setting up the fourth, guiding the team to a comfortable victory at the Estadio de La Cartuja.
Lookman’s goal came from a swift counter-attack, a precise finish into the bottom-right corner marking the 100th goal of his professional career.
He later displayed his vision by assisting Antoine Griezmann for Atlético’s fourth goal, splitting the Betis defense with a perfectly weighted pass.
Lookman played 79 minutes before being replaced by Obed Vegas, with Thiago Almada completing the 5–0 rout shortly after.
Nigerian forward reflects on early days at Atletico
Reflecting on his debut, Lookman shared his joy at settling quickly into the team:
“Very proud, very happy for my debut, especially for the performance of the team. The team, everyone in the dressing room welcomed me in a very affectionate way. They made it easy for me.
That’s why I’m very happy. I’ll try to be regular in the season. Everyone works hard. There are things that can be improved, but my intention is to continue working to improve, which is the important thing,” he said as reported via Football Espana.
With his blend of skill, pace, and creativity, Lookman has already shown he can influence matches and provide the attacking spark Atlético need as they chase Copa del Rey success.