Atlético Madrid have been looking for a replacement for Simeone for months in case he leaves this season | Relief

Not hot. And this is completely independent of some of the results that have hurt this season. Rather, it is the club’s policy. He Atlético Madrid, Now yes, he is actively looking for a coach for some time. Diego Pablo Simeone leaves Riyadh Air Metropolitan. First of all, he studied the market for five months to be ready when it came out this season.

The goal of sports management is to ensure that hypothetical withdrawal is voluntary, consensual or, in the latter case, forced; As events unfold, don’t blow a hole in the club and take anyone by surprise. For this reason, although not an emergency measure, Atlético have been exploring various options since the summer that could provide a guaranteed replacement on the bench. something he had only dared to think about once since signing the agreement in 2011.

At Atlético there is a growing sense of wear and tear in the Argentine’s figure.

Despite the renewal of the squad this season, it is becoming much more difficult for the coach than before to maintain the level of the group as in the best years. At this point in the season, and just three months into the competition, they are already seven points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona, ​​and slightly behind in the new Champions League classification (23rd), despite a vital last place finish. victory in Paris with six points from four games. In a red and white organization, they understand that there is a much bigger project and that an economic effort has been made to give them what they asked for and that it must be rewarded.

The club’s decision to future-proof itself and start looking at alternatives may be at odds with the fact that Simeone signed a contract extension until 2027 just a year ago. However, the contract extension was done in order to spread his significant salary over several years, thereby providing the possibility of payment. Miguel Angel Gil Marin, his great supporter, found a solution that was not just strengthening and improvement, but also helped make him happy and motivated, while at the same time allowing the essence to breathe.

Simeone’s earnings until last year were €45 million gross, including bonuses for the entire contract, signing and other variables. That is almost four million euros gross per month. The extension, which Relevo announced on October 3, 2023, was originally planned for two more seasons (until 2026), but Finally, it was decided that there would be three more, reducing his salary for the campaign by 45–55%. The offer was to pay him the rest of the 2023/24 season (45 million) plus what he was offered for the next three, so that Cholo would earn a total of over one hundred million euros. This would therefore help Atlético’s coffers, in a delicate situation after the pandemic crisis, breathe a little. Players of Griezmann’s level have already contributed to this by reducing their salaries. Thus, the club saves 19 million on the coach, having the opportunity to further adjust the team’s salary limit.

At another time

However, it happens that Simeone agreed to this extension several months before the arrival of Carlos Bucero (in January 2024), the new director of football, at the club. Things have changed a lot since he was here. To prove this, one only needs to look at how Andrea Berta, who has been Cholo’s most trusted sporting director since May 2013, has been relieved of many of his duties. Or much less important details, such as a new official photo without five employees. If, at the time of her arrival, Berta had maximum responsibilities in the first team (coaching staff, assistants and coordination area) and in the youth team (Atlético Madrid B and intelligence and analysis), now he can’t even go into the locker room. His role at Atlético is completely different and his relationship with the players has cooled considerably. Consequently, he is more outside than inside, and the club already assumes that he will leave sooner or later, since, in addition, he has good offers from England. And some sources, not all and not official, slip that with the extension of Simeone and the non-signing of Mateu Alemany, he also strengthened his position until 2029, taking advantage of the fact that PSG, Juve, Arsenal and Manchester United were fighting to acquire his services.

The new policy of Atlético sports management became noticeable in the summer. Bucero arrived ten months ago, and since then one of his first tasks has been to significantly reduce the wage bill in the first team. Hence the exits. Hermoso, Savic, Morata and Memphis Depay were examples that helped balance these weakened accounts. Meanwhile, and although no one imposed this on him at first, he removes power from Simeone, who used to decide absolutely everything, as a preventive parapet in the understanding that the club cannot, through coaching decisions, have weight above sports management. That is why his position towards Atlético Front after the incidents of the last derby, when Cholo initially acted almost as a representative, going into the stands, did not please the entire club. As Relevo learned, Bucero not only dissolved the Simeone-Berta duo, but was not one of those who were most keen to sign Giuliano (Cholo’s son), for whom the Italian really put in the force. Gil Marin, focused on other important issues for the future of the club, allows things to develop strategically and has an alibi as he has become more detached from sporting matters.

Analysis with a magnifying glass

Atlético Madrid has coach profiles that have been very popular for a long time. But the decision to place a bet on a specific one will depend on the moment the vacancy is created. Now, halfway through the season, it is not the same as if Simeone’s departure happened in June as if it happened in 2026 or at the end of his current contract. When this outcome occurs, we will have to look at which technicians have jobs, which ones are unemployed, and which ones are willing to break their contract to inherit Cholo’s position. Because they exist. Klopp has always been highly regarded at home where Fernando Torres is now one of the favorites. Luis Enrique, as he himself admitted last week, had already prayed for the club before making a bid for Simeone. Pochettino is still here, albeit with less force. And it’s worth remembering that Bucero was a representative of two coaches he admires, Julen Lopetegui and Luis de la Fuente. Of course, the one Gil Marin loves the most is Unai Emery. Today, this type of negotiation would be difficult to carry out, since everyone is busy with important sports projects. Tomorrow…

Moreover, when the club decided to appoint Alemany for this sports zone, Marcelino García Toral was the coach they liked best as a successor. The leader of the Balearic Islands had this as a priority on his list, as if he had ended up in the Federation after the success that both had achieved together in Valencia. In fact, the Asturian, who has a contract with Villarreal until June 2026, admitted in a recent interview with Relevo that “he feels ready” to direct a great director. But he was also a realist: “I have the opportunity to go to Madrid, Barça or Atlético, but some are betting on technicians with many titles or former players, and Simeone could stay there for another 14 years…” But this prophecy may soon change.

Atlético Madrid have three compelling reasons that still tie them hand and foot, and they cannot see a future without Simeone. Firstly, his high salary. Either they agree to travel if necessary, or it is impossible to do without their services with such high compensation. Secondly, the Argentine, with everything he has given, has earned the right to decide. They have the utmost respect for him and prefer that he himself decides to take the first step. And thirdly, and no less importantly, the managers negotiating the future sale of the club with Atlético Madrid initially wanted Cholo in their squad. But even these preferences are already changing…