Giovanni Simeone yesterday signed the third goal in Napoli’s resounding victory over Liverpool (4-1), his first goal in the ‘Champions’. And if for a footballer it is already memorable to make his debut in this continental tournament, for an Argentine to do it at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium means even more. The ‘Cholito’ could not contain the tears in celebrating him and kissed his wrist on which he has a tattoo with a lot of history.
“I was 13 years old when I got my first tattoo. You can’t actually get a tattoo before you’re 18, but I was a big fan of the ‘Champions League’. So I made the logo at that age ”, the footballer revealed some time ago.
His father, Diego Pablo Simeone, coach of Atlético de Madrid, did not approve of his son’s decision to get tattooed at such an early age. But the ‘Cholito’ did not care. He knew that one day he would play the ‘Champions’ and that he would score.
Then began his football journey. Three seasons at River and two at Banfield were enough to make the leap to Europe, directly to Italy, where he has been since 2016. He spent one season at Genoa, two at ‘Fiore’ and three at Cagliari before making a name for himself among the top scorers in Serie A at Hellas Verona, where, on loan, he scored 17 goals.
Being the undisputed protagonist in Verona, Napoli knocked on his door offering to make the leap to a great Italian. It was the perfect opportunity to continue growing and, furthermore, to do it hand in hand with a city with so much in common with Argentina, surrounded by the mystique of ‘Diego’, considered a god in the city of Partenopea. Irrefutable offer, the Argentine striker did not think about it. He was going to participate in the ‘Champions’ in a historic team under the gaze of Maradona. He couldn’t ask for much more.
A little more than thirteen years after getting the tattoo, Gio Simeone’s most anticipated day arrived: his debut in the Champions League. He started from the bench, as has been customary since the start of the season, but Osihmen came very close to the match, he was touched and could only last 40 minutes giving Van Dijk and Joe Gómez a war.
Raspadori started with an advantage to be the Nigerian’s substitute, but Spalletti chose ‘Cholito’, sent him to warm up and a minute later he was ready to step on green for Diego Armando Maradona in the Champions League against the European runner-up. Almost nothing.
Three minutes were enough for the Argentine. He entered in the 41st minute and in the 43rd he already caught Van Dijk’s back and nailed Kvaratskhelia’s pass to the back of the net. Naples exploded, it was a party, everyone was smiling. All except the ‘Cholito’, who dropped crying, excited, seeing how he had made his childhood dream come true.
ATHLETIC PENDING
After the meeting, Simeone attended the media and recalled the story. It was already a perfect night for him, but while he was speaking they put on the video scoreboard the end of the match between Atlético de Madrid and Porto, just at the moment in which Griezmann gave the victory to the rojiblancos and Simeone Sr. hit a run to celebrate with their players.
Gio couldn’t believe it. More joy for a night you will never forget. A night in which she fulfilled the dream she had when she got the ‘Champions’ logo tattooed at the age of 13.
?? Gio Simeone living his first magical night of Champions ?
Cholito’s first goal in the competition.pic.twitter.com/KT9KJv3ydN
– Soccer Al Hueco (@FutbolAlHueco) September 7, 2022
