The day Diego Simeone was close to being a Real Madrid player

Diego Simeone was close to being a Real Madrid player in 1994, the current coach of Atlético de Madrid was an option instead of Fernando Redondo. Jorge Valdano (Real Madrid Coach at that time) said in his program "La Liga con Valdano", that before signing Redondo he received a call at 11 at night to stop the signing and focus on Cholo Simeone.

They wanted Cholo in Madrid because at that time he was breaking it in Sevilla and in the Argentine National Team. The style, however, was very different, Cholo was much more seasoned, a brand-name player, who did not give up the ball. Redondo, on the other hand, was a more technical footballer, who focused on passing the ball well, finding spaces, a clock in the middle of the field.

The highest authority of Real Madrid told Valdano to choose Simeone, but he was sure that it is not what he wanted for the team, because he needed someone like Redondo. The call he had with the Madrid manager ended around 1 am: 'Well then now you have two jobs: signing a center half and a coach'. Because he thought I had signed, but I had not yet signed my contract.” Valdano confessed.

Valdano in the end got his way, hired Redondo and it was the best decision. Redondo won the Champions League twice, and, on the other hand, Cholo Simeone signed weeks later with Atlético de Madrid and became a legend of the 'colchonero' team to such an extent that today he is the coach and has the affection of the entire team. Love for the love he has shown to the team.

The story enters into context because the Madrid derby is coming up, a new edition that seeks not to lose ground against FC Barcelona. Simeone spoke at a press conference and highlighted that Atlético de Madrid is the only team that has won leagues against the two giants of Spain: It is normal that people demand that we fight for titles, in recent years only Atlético de Madrid has been able to win leagues against Real Madrid and Barcelona, ​​and we have done it twice," Cholo revealed in a conference of press.

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