"My final chapter rests on Lee Kang-in's shoulders"... Amid 'departure rumors,' Manager Simeone: Will he leave if he wins the UCL? "Aiming for a 15-year dream with the new No. 7"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Manager Diego Simeone (56) will complete his contract with Atletico Madrid at the end of this season. His future whereabouts have become a hot topic in the football world.

The British media outlet "The Athletic" reported on the 13th (Korean time), "Both the club and Manager Simeone are satisfied to not rush things and simply observe the situation. At present, the possibility of a contract renewal appears most likely."

Since taking office in December 2011, Manager Simeone has led Atletico for approximately 15 years, lifting a total of eight championship trophies, including two La Liga titles. This is the most brilliant achievement in the club's 113-year history.

A lower-tier team that was suffering from massive debt and using an old stadium at the time of his appointment has now leaped to become one of Europe's top clubs, with the Estadio Metropolitano, which seats approximately 70,000 people, as its home ground. Manager Simeone also boasts a solid position, receiving the highest salary within the team of approximately 16.5 million euros (approximately 24.5 billion won).

The last contract extension was made in November 2023. The media conveyed, "Although no specific contract renewal negotiation table has been set up yet with his agent, his younger sister Natalia, the club's top brass continues to send strong trust to Manager Simeone. Within the squad as well, there is an atmosphere where the manager's future whereabouts is not a topic of discussion at all."

The club has invested approximately 470 million euros (approximately 700 billion won) over the past three years to strengthen its squad. Even when Julian Alvarez wanted to transfer this summer, they blocked Barcelona's interest and retained him, revealing the club's ambition.

Additionally, they are also pursuing tactical changes by signing a large number of players with aggressive talent, such as Lee Kang-in, Jonathan David, Alexander Sørloth, and Ademola Lookman.

In particular, the arrival of Lee Kang-in, who left Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to wear the Atletico uniform, is giving great momentum to Manager Simeone's tactical evolution. Lee Kang-in, who inherited the squad number 7 from club legend Antoine Griezmann, is injecting vitality into the newly reorganized attack by providing quality opportunities based on his unique creativity and ability to escape pressure. Given that Manager Simeone is relying heavily on Lee Kang-in, it is assessed that Lee Kang-in holds a crucial key in the challenge for the UEFA Champions League (UCL) title, which has long been a wish of the club.

Atletico, which left regrets by finishing 4th in La Liga last season, is currently chasing the leader Barcelona by a 5-point gap and running in 2nd place in the league this season.

Manager Simeone is preparing for his 804th match as a manager against Manchester United, led by Manager Michael Carrick, in the UCL from the 2026-2027 season on the upcoming 14th.

The only remaining goal for Manager Simeone is the UCL championship trophy, which he has never held yet. He reached the finals in 2014 and 2016, but lost to his 'rival' Real Madrid both times, swallowing his tears. The media predicted, "The most ideal ending for the club and Manager Simeone would be to lift the first UCL trophy in club history at their home ground, the Metropolitano, next June."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.View Original