Atlético Madrid have voiced dissatisfaction with the Nigerian Football Federation following the handling of Ademola Lookman during the recent international break.
The Spanish club expressed concern over the physical strain placed on players in friendlies with little competitive significance.
Citing a report by AS.com, the club has condemned what it views as the unnecessary overuse of its players by certain national federations—particularly Lookman. Atlético stressed that its squad is its most valuable asset, and that regular rotation is essential to protect player fitness.
“Atlético have criticised the lack of sensitivity from some federations, which overused players unnecessarily. The club stresses that its players are its greatest asset, so rotations have been essential to manage their workload,” the club told AS.com.
The report noted that both Lookman and Atlético defender Dávid Hancko returned from duty having played 180 minutes each. Hancko featured for Slovakia in a World Cup qualifier against Kosovo before playing a friendly with Romania, while Lookman appeared in two friendlies for Nigeria against Iran and Jordan in Turkey.
Lookman, who joined Atlético from Atalanta during the winter transfer window, accumulated the full 180 minutes across those two friendly matches. The club has warned that federations must prioritise player welfare in future call-ups, especially for non-competitive fixtures that risk overloading key performers.