Former Barcelona and France defender Samuel Umtiti had a front-row seat to the Ademola Lookman show this week.
While working as a DAZN commentator at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, the 2018 World Cup winner watched his former club fall 4-0 to Atlético Madrid in a dominant Copa Del Rey semi-final display.
Lookman, the 2024 CAF Player of the Year, was the man of the hour, netting his first home goals for Atleti alongside Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann.
Following the match, Griezmann even gifted Lookman’s jersey to Umtiti, highlighting the Nigerian’s rising status in Madrid.Umtiti’s advice to the winger was simple but firm: “Keep going like this.”
He urged Lookman to stay focused and continue building chemistry with elite teammates like Griezmann and Alvarez.
Lookman credited the team’s success to their high footballing IQ, noting that his teammates always seem to know exactly where he is on the pitch.