Key Takeaways
- Giuliano Simeone has become a regular starter for Atlético Madrid despite concerns about his father Diego being the manager.
- The 23-year-old winger joined the club’s academy at age 16 and was forced to move out at 18 to prove his independence.
- He wears his first name “Giuliano” rather than “Simeone” on his number 20 shirt to create his own identity at the Metropolitano.
Diego Simeone celebrated his 56th birthday this week by running through a guard of honour formed by his Atlético Madrid players at the Metropolitano. As the manager passed between his squad, they cheered and tapped him on the back. Hidden somewhere in that crowd was his youngest son, Giuliano, joining in the ritual like any other teammate.
The moment captures how far the pair have come since Diego first carried two-year-old Giuliano in his arms during his farewell match at the old Vicente Calderón stadium in 2004. Back then, the boy could hardly imagine standing on the same pitch as his father’s players. Now he is one of them.
Giuliano was born in Italy in December 2002 but spent his childhood in Argentina with his brothers, Giovanni and Gianluca. The family maintained strong ties to Madrid, however. The boys often visited their father during school holidays, and Diego would watch them via video calls on matchday mornings. Football dominated their home life. Tactical drawings covered bits of paper scattered around the house, and the brothers would move glasses across the dinner table to practise formations.
His earliest memories of Atlético include being a ballboy at the Calderón. When the team won the Copa del Rey in 2013, he watched at home with his brothers despite the late hour. By 2015, he was the long-haired child in a white bib sprinting along the touchline to leap into his father’s arms after a derby victory.
At age 16, Giuliano left River Plate’s academy in Argentina to join Atlético’s youth system. He lived with his father initially, watching him study tactics each morning. However, when he turned 18, Diego insisted he move out. The manager wanted his son to become a man, not just a coach’s child.
The path to the first team was never easy. Giuliano originally played as a centre-forward, but his grandfather suggested he move to the wing. The change suited him perfectly. He now tears up and down the touchline for 90 minutes, displaying the same relentless energy that defines his father’s teams.
He has faced accusations of favouritism since he was 12 years old. In a recent interview, he admitted he sometimes worries what others think about his position. His father initially refused to consider signing him, fearing the baggage and pressure would damage their relationship and the squad’s harmony.
Giuliano did not start regularly at first, featuring in only one of the opening eleven matches after returning from loan. Yet when injuries gave him a chance, he seized it immediately. He has not looked back since, proving his worth through pure effort rather than family connections.
The winger now carries a tattoo marking the date of his Atlético debut. He calls them the “team of my life” and wears “Giuliano” on his shirt instead of “Simeone”. It is a small but significant choice. He is not merely the manager’s son anymore. He is a Simeone in character and commitment, but very much his own player.