On a night filled with symbolism at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, coach Diego Simeone celebrated his 56th birthday while leading Atlético Madrid to the Champions League semi-finals for the seventh time in the club's history.

Among the players who lined up to greet him before the final training session, there was someone who had a completely different relationship with the Argentine coach: his youngest son, Giuliano Simeone, who has become one of the team's prominent figures today after a long journey to prove himself beyond the label of "the coach's son."

Juliano, born in 2002, spent his childhood moving between Argentina and Madrid, influenced by his father's tactical passion and football, which was the focal point of family life. He appeared as a ball boy in Atlético matches and once jumped into his father's arms after a derby victory, before later becoming a player on the same field. Despite his emotional connection to the club, his path was not easy, especially with his father's insistence on not granting him any privileges in the locker room.

Giuliano joined Atletico's academy after leaving River Plate's academy, then went on loan to Zaragoza and Alaves, where he suffered a severe ankle fracture in 2023. However, the young player came back stronger, establishing himself with his combative style and offensive speed, eventually compelling his father to rely on him permanently. Former Alaves coach Luis Garcia described him at the time as "running non-stop for 90 minutes and making a difference out of nothing."

Although the fans see him as a miniature version of Diego Simeone on the field, Giuliano insists on building his own identity. Even the club's jerseys bear the name "Giuliano" instead of "Simeone," indicating his desire to forge his own career path.

Today, having become an influential figure in Atletico's lineup, it seems that the youngest son of the club's legend has finally succeeded in transforming the family legacy from a heavy burden into a new success story within the Spanish capital.