Atlético Madrid have criticised the Nigerian Football Federation over the deployment of Ademola Lookman during the recent FIFA international break, highlighting the physical toll on players involved in friendlies with limited competitive stakes, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The Spanish club reportedly condemned the overuse of their players by certain federations, particularly Lookman, underlining that the squad represents their most valuable asset and that rotations are essential to protect their condition.

AS.com reported that Atlético have warned that federations must consider player welfare in future call-ups, especially for friendlies that risk overloading key performers such as Lookman.

“Atlético have criticised the lack of sensitivity from some federations, which overused players unnecessarily. The club stresses that its players are its greatest asset, so rotations have been essential to manage their workload,” the club was quoted by AS.com

“Players such as Lookman and Hancko returned with 180 minutes each. Hancko led Slovakia’s defence against Kosovo in World Cup qualifiers before featuring in a friendly against Romania, while Lookman played two friendlies in Turkey against Iran and Jordan.”

Lookman, who joined Atlético from Atalanta in the winter transfer window, returned from international duty with 180 minutes accumulated across two friendlies.

He played the full 90 minutes in Nigeria’s 2-1 win over Iran before being substituted for Frank Onyeka, and also completed the entirety of the 2-2 draw against Jordan in Antalya, Turkey.

Hancko, similarly, logged 180 minutes with Slovakia, featuring in a World Cup qualifier against Kosovo and a friendly against Romania.

AS.com added that Atlético highlighted these workloads as part of the strain endured by their internationals, emphasising that many matches during the break were friendlies that did not carry official stakes.

Since his arrival at Atlético, Lookman has impressed in Spain, scoring five goals and providing four assists in fourteen appearances across La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League.

His performances have made him a key figure for both club and country, which makes careful management of his minutes a priority.

Atlético’s wider squad also faced significant challenges during the break.

According to AS.com, 14 players from the club were called up by their national teams, with cumulative minutes reaching 1,514, of which 1,424 came in friendlies.

The club endured the absence of key players like Jan Oblak, Alex Pubill, Matías Barrios, and Mauro Mendoza due to fitness issues, while Johnny Cardoso returned with a confirmed muscle injury and Alexander Sorloth awaited assessment for a head wound sustained in Switzerland.

The club’s focus now is on recovering their internationals ahead of a critical stretch of fixtures, which includes matches against Barcelona in the league and Champions League, as well as a Copa final scheduled before April 18.