Cholo and Atletico Madrid – love without limits

There will be no early split. At least not for now. Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid are still very much in love. In recent months, there had been speculation that “Cholo” could walk away from the club he has been devoted to for more than 14 years, but that won’t happen this coming summer.

On Friday, Madrid-based AS reported that the Argentine is expected to remain on Atletico’s bench until the end of his contract, which runs through the 2026/27 season.

That means Simeone will certainly still be at the Metropolitano next season. Beyond that, who knows—he could even extend his stay once again, as he has done multiple times over the past decade and a half, continually rebuilding the team and pushing the limits of longevity.

The agreement referenced by AS implies that neither Simeone nor the club’s leadership will activate the clauses available to them: the coach could leave when he feels the time is right, and the club could dismiss him—both unilaterally.

Although there were tensions, particularly due to a poor start in La Liga and an early exit from the title race despite heavy investment between seasons, with January and February full of reports suggesting Cholo might depart, things have since settled down.

This is partly thanks to Atletico’s run to the Copa del Rey final, where they will face Real Sociedad with a chance to lift only their second trophy in that competition under Simeone. In addition, the Madrid side has reached the Champions League quarter-finals, prompting a decision to shift focus back to the team rather than the coach’s status.

AS goes a step further, noting that directors Miguel Angel Gil and Mateu Alemany have already begun outlining plans for the next transfer window in order to further strengthen the squad. This is partly due to Antoine Griezmann’s move to Orlando, meaning his departure will need to be addressed.

FALSE 10: The Last Dance of Topocho

Meanwhile, Nico Gonzalez’s loan from Juventus is coming to an end, and Koke’s contract is expiring—though the captain typically renews on a one-year basis.

Another detail suggests that any issues have been resolved. The Madrid daily hints that Atletico’s board could offer Simeone a new contract this summer. What is certain is that he will see out his current deal. This also means that Inter, who have long been admirers, will have to wait—just like Argentina, who would gladly see him take over as national team coach.