{
  "id": 8686478,
  "title": "LaLiga: We need him – Simeone sends message to Lookman ahead of Madrid Derby",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/laliga-we-need-him-simeone-sends-message-to-lookman-ahead-of-madrid",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-20T12:20:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Post Nigeria",
    "slug": "daily-post-nigeria",
    "url": "https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/20/laliga-we-need-him-simeone-sends-message-to-lookman-ahead-of-madrid-derby/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Atletico Madrid's manager, Diego Simeone, has urged Ademola Lookman to step up when required in their upcoming match against Real Madrid in LaLiga. The two Spanish teams will clash on Sunday. Lookman had a stellar season last year, netting nine goals and assisting four times in 24 appearances for his former club. However, the 28-year-old has had a sluggish start to the current campaign, starting as a center-forward in the team's first two league games before moving back to his preferred left-wing position against Sevilla. This shift paid off handsomely, with Lookman scoring his first goal of the season in Atletico's 3-1 win over Sevilla on August 29. Since then, though, Lookman has gone four games without scoring. Speaking ahead of the Madrid Derby, Simeone emphasized the importance of his striker, saying, “We need him, whether it’s 60, 70 minutes or whatever he plays. He has done us very well since he arrived and although his start to the season is not what he would have wanted, we need him.”",
  "summary": "Atletico Madrid manager, Diego Simeone, has called on Ademola Lookman to step up when needed against Real Madrid. The two Madrid clubs face off in LaLiga on Sunday. Lookman enjoyed a fine season with Atletico last season, scoring nine times and providing four assists in 24 appearances. However, the 28-year-old has started the current campaign slowly, […] LaLiga: We need him – Simeone sends…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport",
        "title": "Mourinho and Simeone renew rivalry in Madrid derby after more than a decade",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/mourinho-and-simeone-renew-rivalry-in-madrid-derby-after-more-than-a",
        "published": "2026-09-20T06:55:30.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Mourinho and Simeone renew rivalry in Madrid derby after more than a decade",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/mourinho-and-simeone-renew-rivalry-in-madrid-derby-after-more-than-a-8632240",
        "published": "2026-09-20T06:58:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Jose Mourinho holds up screenshots of 'red card' incidents after Real lose Madrid derby",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/jose-mourinho-holds-up-screenshots-of-red-card-incidents-after-real",
        "published": "2026-09-21T06:37:23.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}