As a child, over coffee and croissants in their native Argentina, Giuliano Simeone chatted with his father, Diego, about the merits of taking the Atletico Madrid job.
Almost 14 years later, and now the most decorated coach in Los Rojiblancos’ history, there is no sense the boss is merely repaying the youngest of his three sons by giving him a chance at the Metropolitano.
Having swapped Buenos Aires for Madrid as a 16-year-old, leaving River Plate to join Atletico’s youth ranks, the 22-year-old has had to bide his time for a chance in his father’s side. Few can argue he has not earned it.
Indeed, his older sibling Giovanni – when scoring regularly in Serie A – was told by ‘El Cholo’ that he would not sign him, external because “it’s hard to have a son in the dressing room”.
Giuliano, meanwhile, scored 25 goals in 36 games for Atletico’s B team in the Spanish fifth tier in 2021-22, earning his sole first-team appearance that year as a 91st-minute substitute in a goalless draw with Granada.
His development continued with loan spells at second-division Real Zaragoza and then Alaves in La Liga during the following campaigns.
But now, heading into a derby against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Saturday, where a win would send Atletico top of La Liga, the youngest brother suddenly finds himself a key protagonist in his father’s plans.
The winger has four goal involvements in his past three games. After scoring and assisting in a Champions League win over Red Bull Salzburg, he set up another in a La Liga victory against Mallorca and wrapped up a dream week by putting two goals past Getafe in a 5-0 Copa del Rey quarter-final win on Tuesday.
“I’m very happy, it’s been crazy,” he told Teledeporte afterwards. “I think about the things I have to improve day by day. I still have many flaws and details that I want to improve to keep growing.”
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