Simeone dispenses with the Portuguese accent

“He only wants Argentines”, they comment sarcastically from the environment of one of the outgoing footballers. In all the locker rooms there are groups, clans, gangs. In all jobs or groups actually. The problem is when these groups become cliques, which already has a negative connotation. From the gossip of the Metropolitan it is said that this has been the case of the clan formed by Portuguese and Brazilians, all united by a common front beyond language: they played less than they thought they deserved and Simeone’s style was not the one that best suited fit his characteristics. All offensive footballers and happy football, with the exception of Felipe, who no longer counted for anything for Cholo. The central defender had barely played thirteen minutes since the return of the World Cup and in total he had participated in only four of Atlético’s 30 official matches this season. On the horn, the same January 31 and at 10:46 p.m., an exit that the club had wanted for a long time became official. Finally heading to Notthingam Forest, where he will meet up with his compatriot Lodi. Related News Standard football Yes From caudillo to the bank: what about Reinildo now? José Ignacio Fernández Simeone suddenly stops counting on the Mozambican: from leader to bank The full-back was the first on this list to leave, last summer, looking for a frustrated goal: to have more minutes to get a place in the World Cup. He had a hard time getting into the English team and finally Tite left him off the Brazilian list. With the one from Sao Paulo it is with whom Simeone was harsher in his statements when assessing his departure: “Some like to compete and others prefer to go to other teams to have those minutes that theoretically bring them closer to being able to go to the World Cup.” Matheus Cunha stayed to compete at Atlético, but he only enjoyed 513 minutes out of a possible 1,530, barely had two starts and also ran out of the World Cup. The Olympic champion with the canarinha left hurt (before the winter market even opened) leaving a message to his coach: «There are those who rule because at some point it was very important, they have their hierarchies and make the decisions. And then you also have to take yours », he wrote on his social networks. On the 9th, Simeone’s public farewell was as aseptic as it was concise: “He is a boy who gave us everything he had and we gave him everything too.” The Portuguese-Portuguese Cunha clan On Christmas day the transfer of him with a mandatory purchase option to Wolverhampton was signed. Atlético will receive 20 million for a striker who has not yet scored this season Joao Félix’s tug of war with Simeone led to his departure on loan to Chelsea, who will pay 11 million to have the Portuguese until June. Afterwards, his future is unknown Felipe The defender closed his exit on the last day of the winter market after three and a half seasons, in which he gradually lost importance and minutes Lodi The first of the clan to leave. He left in the summer for Nottingham Forest, which will pay a total of 35 million to keep the Brazilian side in property Rivers of ink have already been spilled in the Joao Félix case. The reasons why they did not swallow each other were long and a loan from the Portuguese was the best short-term solution. When the departure to Chelsea of ​​one of the footballers who has monopolized Simeone’s questions from the press in recent months (or years) was confirmed, the Argentine was once again laconic in his response: “I am not going to stop at one such a long explanation (on why the best Joao had not been seen). I wish him the best, he has extraordinary conditions, he is young and he is excited to show all his football and I hope he does well wherever he is ». Lodi, Cunha, Joao Félix and Felipe were a squad on and off the field. They shared exercises in each training session, laughs, confidences and plans beyond football. They were called ‘irmao’ (brother in Portuguese) and they welcomed Reinildo into that group (Portuguese is also the official language in Mozambique), who recognized upon his arrival –in the winter market a year ago– that Lodi, despite Being direct competition on the left side, he was one of the teammates who was helping him the most. The Mozambican is the only survivor of the clan, although he also came to be on the tightrope after the World Cup, being a substitute in three consecutive games, when until then he had played absolutely everything. Spare in words Now they are pointed out as a group, as alleged conspirators against the authority of the Argentine, a theory that is not shared by that clan. They think that simply “Simeone looked for blame in others” and they reproach the Argentine coach’s lack of dialogue (common complaint in many footballers who have gone through Atlético del Cholo). In the press conference prior to the game against Getafe, Simeone was questioned about whether the departure of all the members of this group in just a few months was due to some common problem, but the Argentine only gave them good words: “I am A thank you to all the boys who have passed through the club, we have had to win the championship with many of those you named being very important at different times of the championship won. Not to mention Felipe, not to mention Joao in that wonderful first round that he did, not to mention Lodi with that game that the League escaped us with Osasuna and scored a goal that gave us the way to win the League ». Regarding Cunha, he acknowledged that he has played less, but assured that he always showed will, effort and desire to compete. «I don’t think I forget any of the four, was there any missing? The four of them have been important in due time and we wish them the best wherever they are”, concluded a Simeone who, at least for a while, will be able to forget about the Brazilian-Portuguese clan. In summer, Lodi and Joao will have to return after their loan. But by then Cholo’s own continuity is uncertain. For the moment, Simeone wins another pulse.