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Atlético Madrid have informed Diego Simeone of their intention to renew his contract until 2024, according to AS.
Chief executive Miguel Ángel Gil Marín met with Simeone recently to begin discussions about extending the coach’s contract, which ends on June 30, 2022. The Argentine will celebrate a decade on Atlético’s bench that December, a spell that has turned the team into perennial contenders at home and in Europe.
A recent loss to Segunda B side Cornellá in the Copa del Rey was a shock to the system and Simeone admitted everything was on the table during the summer. Despite Atlético’s fine league form, Simeone said after the defeat:
“I’m happy here, but you have to be open to whatever the club decides.”
Atlético have acted fast to ensure their intentions are clear, with talk of a new deal that would see Simeone remain the highest-paid manager in the world.
Simeone has overseen a golden era at Atlético, winning LaLiga, making two Champions League finals and finishing in Spain’s top three each year. That consistency in performance has helped the rojiblancos build an incredibly-talented squad that leads LaLiga midway through January.
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João Félix signed for the club two summers ago, and Thomas Lemar was another expensive signing before him. Luis Suárez joined last summer, and many would say Atlético have the best goalkeeper in the world in Jan Oblak. However, Gil Marín believes Simeone is the pillar that he needs to keep in place. None of this would be possible without the Argentine.
Natalia Simeone, Cholo’s sister and agent, will reconvene with Gil Marín in the coming weeks to continue negotiations. Those currently in his technical staff will remain, including Profe Ortega as the right hand man, Nelson Vivas as his assistant and Hernán Bonvicini as third assistant.
Simeone is the world’s best-paid manager currently, but he is aware of the current economic situation and is expecting his renewal to reflect the current climate. AS report there should be no problem, however, with the club ensuring they do everything financially and in a sporting sense to convince Cholo there is no better club in the world for him to coach.