Earlier in the 2026/27 La Liga season, Simeone deployed Lookman as a center-forward during matches against Málaga and Villarreal — a positional change forced by the absences of Julián Álvarez and Alexander Sorloth. Simeone later publicly apologised to Lookman for the awkward deployment.

Rather than bristling at the disruption, the 2024 CAF Player of the Year used the experience as motivation. He pointed to Atlético's early-season form as evidence that the collective approach is bearing fruit.