The news that Diego Simeone could leave Atletico in 2018 sent Twitter into meltdown. Arsenal fans, as you’d expect, were keen to make their opinion heard.
It’s no secret that a rather outspoken portion of the Arsenal fanbase have grown rather weary of a lack of superstar signings, predictable European exits and the annual springtime capitulation. Therefore, as reports broke this morning suggesting that Diego Simeone was set to leave Atletico Madrid at the end of next season, #WengerOut quickly changed to #SimeoneIn. According to the Daily Mail, the Argentinian has reduced his contract from 2020 to 2018, reportedly paving the way for an imminent exit.
You can see why they’d be excited. After all, the black-suited bastion of success seized the reigns at Atletico days after a humiliating defeat to third-tier Albacete in the Copa Del Rey in 2011, transforming the perennial underachievers into exactly the opposite. In five and a half years at the Vicente Calderon, Los Colchoneros have lifted the Europa League, Copa Del Rey, UEFA Super Cup, and their first La Liga title in 17 years, all the while transforming Diego Godin, Antoine Griezmann (below), Koke, Jan Oblak, Diego Costa and Thibaut Courtois from budding potential into established elite.
Even Wengers’ traditionalist supporters could appreciate that record.
Such is the desire to wave Wenger off into the sunset, however, have some Arsenal fans missed a very pertinent point? Simeone is hardly renowned for his pretty-passing principles and free-flowing attacking football. He is an exponent of the win-at-all-costs mentality, including the cynicism and, on occasion, blatant cheating that goes with it. David Beckham, in particular, knows that all too well (below).
Now, that may be what Arsenal need. But is it really what they want?
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