‘Misunderstood’ Ademola Lookman may never get a second chance in the Premier League

Ademola Lookman may be starring in Spain for Atletico Madrid, but a return to the Premier League isn’t going to happen.

That’s according to European football expert Andy Brassell, who believes he ‘missed the boat’ on a career in the top-flight.

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Lookman, who came through Charlton Athletic‘s academy before playing for Everton, Fulham and Leicester, joined Atletico in February.

He had spent four years at Serie A side Atalanta, scoring 55 goals in 137 games and netting a hat-trick to help his side win the Europa League in 2024, building up a strong reputation in Europe.

And since heading to La Liga, he’s kicked on further, scoring four and assisting three goals in his 11 appearances for the club.

Before making the £30million transfer though, Lookman was linked to Tottenham – but Spurs snubbed the chance to sign him.

However, amid his impressive form for Atletico, it has raised the question over whether he would have helped them out amid their shock battle against relegation from the Premier League.

“I think it’s a difficult question because the way that so many players have underachieved for Tottenham this season, you wonder what player would have gone there and played their best in that environment, frankly,” Brassell told talkSPORT.com.

“Part of that is the vibe around the place, part of that is the injuries, part of that is the form. There are so many different things that chip into that.

“I think it’s very hard to say there is one player who would go in and change everything about the club, the current culture and the current state of mind.”

He added: “I think we really have to admire Lookman for him choosing Atletico. Remember, he could have gone to Fenerbahce for more money. But he chose to go and play for one of Europe’s elite clubs, one of Europe’s elite leagues. It really seems to work well so far.

“I think what maybe this has underlined so far for people who don’t watch Ademola Lookman on a weekly basis or didn’t at Atalanta, is this is a player who is nothing like the Ademola Lookman who left the Premier League.

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“Not just has he got tons of ability, but he’s incredibly industrious, adaptable, offers a load of different threats, goals, assists, intelligence, and works really hard off the ball as well.

“Otherwise, he wouldn’t be Diego Simeone‘s cup of tea at all. I think the fact that he’s clicked so well with that front part of the team does show that not everyone can play for Atletico.”

Simeone’s Atletico are known to be extremely physically aggressive and hard-working, something that Lookman has bought into.

“You have to be cut from a very particular cloth to do it,” Brassell said.

“He’s hungry because he’s wanted this move to one of the biggest clubs in Europe. He was desperate to go to Inter Milan last summer. He’s wanted this move for a really long time or a move like it for a really long time.

“I think he could be big in this time because I think, particularly in the cup matches for Atletico, where they tend to be a little bit more front foot, he’s been really, really good so far.”

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‘Missed the Premier League boat’

Despite his strong showings since joining Atletico, Brassell thinks that Lookman won’t be returning to the Premier League.

He has 96 games in England’s top-flight to his name, scoring just 11 times across his stints at Everton, Fulham and Leicester.

But he may be remembered most for a missed Panenka penalty in the 98th minute for the Cottagers against West Ham in 2020.

And that reputation will play a big part in his chances of coming back, even if it happened six years ago.

Brassell explained: “The thing is that Lookman has kind of missed the Premier League boat really because he’s a little bit misunderstood at home.

“I think so many people see him still as the guy who missed that penalty for Fulham at West Ham, which is really unfair, but I think that’s a lot of people who watch the Premier League and mainly the Premier League’s enduring image.”

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Brassell then went on to compare Lookman’s situation to Fikayo Tomori, whose poor performance against former club, Chelsea, for AC Milan seemed to ruin his chances at a Premier League comeback.

He continued: “I think the fact that he [Lookman] has done such great work abroad for most of his 20s, in that time he’s been man of the match in a major European final.

“He is one of the guys who helped them [Atalanta] over the line. But I think as well, it’s a matter of he is someone who is of a certain age now as well.

“So, without saying he’s not in his prime, because I think he is still firmly in his prime, Premier League clubs don’t really go out and buy 28-year-olds for 50 million any more…not to the same degree that they would have done if we go back three, four, five years. PSR has had a massive influence on that, of course.

“But now Premier League clubs would rather, I suppose, someone like Viktor Gyökeres, who’s sort of on the cusp at 26, is someone who’s a rare exception to that…think of the stick that he’s had from fans and media at various points this season.

“The fact is, Premier League clubs would rather buy someone who’s a bit more expensive, on lower wages, who’s 19, 20, 21, with a massive upside. And so the timelines and the parameters of English football have kind of shifted while Ademola Lookman has been away. But that loss for various Premier League clubs has been Atletico’s gain.”