Napoli striker Giovanni Simeone opened up about his passion for the Champions League and reflected on his first six months in Campania.
The 27-year-old Argentinian forward has mostly featured as a squad option under Luciano Spalletti this season, but has shined when given the chance, scoring four goals in five Champions League appearances. Despite not once starting in Serie A this season, Simeone has still netted three goals across 173 minutes of action.
Speaking to UEFA’s media department, Simeone first discussed his love and passion for the Champions League.
“When I was in Argentina, I used to watch the most important matches in the afternoon because of the time difference. Actually, I used to watch all the Champions League matches because the best players in the world all played there.
“I had such a passion that I followed all the matches and also watched the interviews with the players. The first Champions League I remember perfectly was the one Milan won, in 2007. Since then, I have always been obsessed with the idea of playing in it.”
He reflected on his first six months at Napoli and how well he’s done.
“We can count on the whole squad, not just the eleven who start on the pitch. There are many players on the bench who can come in and make a difference, and that makes us a much more complete team.
“The fact that we all have the same level of motivation says a lot about the squad, the coach and the players. We are all highly motivated and this is fundamental to achieve important results.”
He explained why he has a tattoo of the Champions League logo.
“I was looking forward to playing in the Champions League, so I wanted to fix my goal on my skin as a kind of promise. It was a sudden decision. When I thought about it, I said to myself, ‘I want to get this tattoo because the day I get there, I will kiss it when I score a goal’.
“I told my mother, and she gave me permission, but my father didn’t want me to do it. He said I was crazy. He didn’t really believe in tattoos. When I was training, I would look at my tattoo and tell myself, ‘Train…give it your all…your goal is to get there,’ and I would get even more motivated.
“It was all about motivation and having a goal, following a dream that I didn’t even know if I could ever achieve. I always knew that I had to work hard to realise that dream.”
Finally, Simeone discussed what he’s learnt from his father, Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone.
“From him I learnt to have ambition. It’s something my father has, the desire to always reach a goal. I didn’t choose to play football because of my father, but because I have always played since I was a child and always pursued my goal.
“A dream that seemed difficult to me at the time but which I knew I could achieve – and it was my father who showed me this with his hard work. Many say I have the same personality as him, both on and off the pitch.
“Off the pitch a calm, balanced person, attached to his family, and on the pitch a person who gives his all, who has grit and courage. I see a lot of myself in him. His best advice is that until your last day as a player you always learn something new.
“He told me that when I arrived at Genoa. He never gave me specific advice, but he always encouraged me. The only advice, as I said, was that until the last day of training as a footballer, you keep learning.”
Despite mostly featuring on the bench, Simeone is an important part of Spalletti’s Napoli squad and gives him a reliable backup to star striker Victor Osimhen, with the Argentinian proving that he can rise to the occasion.