Nigerian forward, Ademola Lookman is a major doubt for Atlético Madrid ahead of their Champions League semi-final against Arsenal on April 29 after suffering an injury in the Copa del Rey final.
Ademola Lookman, 28, is expected to miss upcoming fixtures against Elche CF and Athletic Club, raising fears over his fitness for the European showdown later this month.
Atlético confirmed that Lookman and Alexander Sørloth ended the final with physical discomfort and have been placed on individual recovery programmes.
“Ademola Lookman and Alexander Sørloth finished the Copa del Rey final with discomfort,” the club stated.
“The club’s medical services have performed tests that advise maximum caution to avoid the risk of injury, so they will follow an individualised plan in the coming days, working outside the group. The evolution of these discomforts will mark his return to training with his teammates.”
Reports from Marca say the fallout from the defeat has worsened the situation, leaving both players sidelined and racing to be fit for the Champions League tie.
“For now, Lookman and Sorloth are both injured and will be unavailable for the next two fixtures against Elche and Athletic, while they remain major doubts for next week’s Champions League semi-final against Arsenal,” Marca wrote.
Lookman, who was replaced by Sørloth in the second half of the Copa del Rey final, is dealing with swelling in his adductor and is expected to be out for at least a week.
With Arsenal due at the Metropolitano Stadium on April 29, the window for recovery is tight, though the forward has begun working with medical staff in a bid to return.
His absence would be a serious setback for Atlético. Since arriving in the winter transfer window, Lookman has made 11 goal contributions, the second highest in the squad during that spell, and he became the first Nigerian to score in the Copa del Rey since Finidi George in 1997.
