According to Mundo Deportivo, Simeone apologized to Ademola Lookman due to Atletico Madrid's current striker shortage.

Atletico Madrid is currently facing a striker crisis. With Alexander Sørloth sidelined by injury and Julián Álvarez struggling with form, Simeone's solution has been to deploy Ademola Lookman as a center forward.

At least until the Argentine striker recovers to starter form, Sørloth returns from injury (he will miss the first two matches due to a muscle injury), and a new striker arrives to join Álvarez and Sørloth as attacking options.

Simeone has already apologized to Lookman. "I know this isn't your role, but you need to help us," Simeone told Lookman. "He's a good man who works hard for the team, but he's missing what he loves to do—dribbling and taking on defenders one-on-one. Once our strikers are all available, we'll give him back that freedom so we can share the attacking burden and strengthen the team overall," Simeone said after the match against Villarreal.

Although Álvarez lacked full fitness for a starting role, he returned to action on Sunday against Villarreal, playing 33 minutes with 1 off-target shot, 12 touches, and 9 successful passes from 10. In contrast, Ademola Lookman had 23 touches in 83 minutes, 11 passes, and only 1 shot. In the season's first match against Málaga, he had two shots, both on target.

Until the Argentine striker recovers to starter form and returns from his two-match absence due to muscle injury, or a new forward arrives as requested by Simeone, the Nigerian winger has become Simeone's solution at center forward.

The coach tested this setup during preseason, deploying him as a pivot center forward—a significant departure from his previous role. Although Lookman played as a more central striker at Atalanta in Italy and improved his goal efficiency, the tactical contexts differ greatly.

This is completely different from how Gasperini used him at Atalanta, where he excelled as a goalscorer. Gasperini never deployed him as a fixed center forward. The Nigerian shone in Atalanta's highly offensive 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-1-2 formations. The Italian coach built a high-pressing system around him, with the left wing almost exclusively tailored to his strengths. Retegui or Scamacca would occupy the opposing center backs, allowing Lookman to cut infield from the left, fully utilizing his exceptional dribbling skills and powerful shot.

However, this season at Atletico, Lookman has frequently played with his back to goal, isolated from midfield and surrounded by opposing center backs, who often adopt deep defensive blocks that prevent him from exploiting his key strengths: pace, penetration, and space.

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