The strange relationship between Veron and Simeone: never friends, but winning together

Diego Pablo Simeone is a character with a particular character. And the latest anecdote in this regard is the coexistence with another totem of the Argentine national team. Juan Sebastian Veron. The two have crossed paths several times in their careers, even with different roles, first in Italy and then in Argentina. With Lazio, forming an absolute level midfield. Yet, beyond the playing field, there were no relationships between the two, as El Cholo recounts in his docufilm on Amazon Prime.

NEVER FRIENDS – Simeone and Brujita got along very well. In the field. “Without a doubt, Verón was one of the best players in his position in his decade and it was a pleasure to play alongside him. He is one of the players to choose to build a team capable of winning. When he came to Lazio we changed alongside. side in the locker room without even saying goodbye, but the relationship off the pitch is one thing. If they touched him in the pitch he was a brother. There was no friendship, but the desire to pursue the same goal united us “.

CONFIRMATION – Confirmation comes from the person concerned. “I have a deep respect and great admiration for Cholo, but I can’t call him a friend, I’ve never considered myself one. Today, over time, I can come to consider him a good teammate. In the national team we have had our differences and also in Lazio it was the same. Let’s be clear, I would have killed for him on the pitch and I’m sure he would have done the same. You don’t need to get along to win. In fact, I believe that differences must exist. “

ARGENTINA – To complete the picture, the experience at Estudiantes de la Plata, a club where Verón was an idol and Simeone was the manager. Together they won in an unforgettable way in a play-off against Boca. In 2006 Simeone led his team to victory in the opening championship, 23 years after their last championship victory. Ortega, who was part of the coaching staff, explains how the relationship was polite but not friendly. “When Verón raised the trophy, they hugged him and told him that although he didn’t have any feelings of friendship for him, he valued him very much.”