Giovanni Simeone underlined his happiness at Napoli and the difficulties of being the son of Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone.
The 27-year-old Argentinian forward signed for the Partenopei from Hellas Verona in the summer and has quickly hit the ground running in the Campania capital. Simeone scored his first Champions League goal in the 4-1 win over Liverpool and netted the winner in the key clash with Milan last week.
Speaking to Il Mattino, Simeone first discussed how it feels to be playing for Napoli.
“It’s good, with my feet on the ground. This thing of being at the top in both the league and the Champions League only makes you want to continue like this, aware that this is the right path.
“We’re calm and the idea of always having to improve gives us even more strength.”
He gave his thoughts on the Partenopei squad.
“Jack and I are the latest arrivals and we have found a squad that’s already very solid and compact, who have shown great desire.
“And this will is always the basic condition to be able to achieve the results we have achieved in these first weeks. Then, you know, it’s always the results that give value to things.”
The 27-year-old explained the reasons why he decided to join Napoli.
“There was something special, almost magical, from the very first moment they spoke to me about Napoli. I felt positive vibrations inside me, a crazy desire to wear this shirt.
“I had other temptations this summer, but that emotion that the word Napoli gave me has never been given to me before.
“There is joy in being here. And all this gives me daily strength. I am a sensitive person, I perceive positive energies, I live by capturing what is positive around me and I can separate it from what is negative. And Napoli immediately gave me a jolt, I had to come here.
“I believe in the power of energy, the world and the universe are in motion and we are all people who move within these vibrations sensing whether or not they are in tune with the right thing to do.
“I believe in what I am doing. And wanting and believing are always stronger than anything. There are many strong teams like Napoli, but it’s the will that decides who wins.”
Simeone spoke about his fellow Napoli forwards Victor Osimhen and Giacomo Raspadori.
“Of Osi it’s hard to copy his speed and his finishing in speed, he has an incomparable running shot. And of Jack I adore his creativity, his stops, his touches, his elegance. I never give up.
“Not even for a second in a training session. Every day. I’ve always worked to get here, who knows what special qualities one thinks one must have. No, there’s work, just that.”
He discussed his father Diego and how it feels to be living in his shadow.
“It was more difficult, heavier. At the beginning they always point at you as the son of…. I feel the weight of it, the shadow of my father who always did more, the eyes on me of people who allude to favours.
“It takes twice as much to get here, and that goes for all the kids who have their dad doing their job. My father messages me every day, but once he left me a note saying ‘love the goal, it’s the most beautiful thing’. But he’s not my coach, he’s my father.
“And his phone calls, his advice for everyday life, they are the words spoken to a son. They are not the phrases of a coach, they are not technical suggestions. We talk about our lives, him in Madrid, me now in Napoli.”
The 27-year-old commented on the qualities of coach Luciano Spalletti.
“He’s someone who studies everything about a player, both as a person and as a player. He watches every movement you make, he’s attentive, he works to put you in a position to give your best at all times.
“He doesn’t think about the individual, he thinks about the team, about what the individual can give to the team. That is the thing that matters most.”
Finally, Simeone spoke about his nickname ‘Cholito’ and how he feels about it.
“I like being called that. At the beginning the reference to my dad was obvious. But now the Cholito is me, I’m not just Cholo’s son when I go on the pitch and play.”