Former Nigeria head coach José Peseiro believes Ademola Lookman has now matched Victor Osimhen in influence for the Super Eagles, insisting the winger has what it takes to become a defining figure at Atlético Madrid.
Osimhen has long been regarded as Nigeria’s standout star, but Peseiro said Lookman’s impact — particularly at the Africa Cup of Nations — has been just as decisive.
“Osimhen was the star, but Lookman has not been behind him. In fact, he has scored more goals. Now they are both key figures,” he told Marca.
Lookman has been Nigeria’s most consistent performer across the last two AFCON tournaments, directly contributing to 11 goals — six goals and five assists — in 13 appearances, helping the Super Eagles to silver and bronze medals.
Peseiro, who gave Lookman sustained backing during his time in charge, rejected claims that the player is difficult to manage, describing him instead as humble and receptive when trusted.
“Lookman does not act like a star; he is very easy to manage, you just have to let him be free,” he said.
The Portuguese coach added that the 28-year-old’s early displays in Spain highlighted his quality, while urging patience as he settles into a new environment.
“Playing like that three days after arriving can only be explained by his quality. Now we must remain calm because he still needs to adapt, but it is already clear that he does not feel pressure. If you give him freedom and accept his boldness and creativity, Lookman has the potential to produce outstanding seasons and make an era at Atlético,” Peseiro said.
Peseiro described the move as a decisive step in Lookman’s career, saying it fulfils a long-standing ambition to compete at Europe’s highest level and to answer critics from his time in England.
“For him, it is a challenge and a very important step because he has achieved the objective he always had of reaching one of the best clubs in Europe and continuing to prove to England that they made a mistake with him,” he said.
The former Nigeria coach revealed that conversations in 2022 played a key role in reviving Lookman’s career, following an unsettled period that included spells at Everton, RB Leipzig, Fulham and Leicester City.
Peseiro said Lookman often spoke about his disappointment at being overlooked by England after success at youth level, despite winning the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2017.
“He was still young, but he often told me how sad he was that after winning the Under-20 World Cup in 2017 and progressing to the Under-21s, England stopped calling him up. He did not understand it and believed he had a future there, but he had to accept it,” Peseiro revealed.
Now entering his peak years, Lookman has added defensive discipline and physical strength to his attacking flair, with Peseiro crediting the demands of Italian football for accelerating his development.
