Introduction
Giuliano Simeone Baldini is a name gaining increasing prominence in the football world. Born on December 18, 2002, in Rome, Italy, the young Argentine forward carries in his blood a passion for the sport, inherited from a legendary family. Son of iconic coach Diego Simeone, current manager of Atlético Madrid, Giuliano represents the new generation of talents blending grit, technique, and determination. At just 22 years old, he has already accumulated experiences with major European clubs and call-ups to the Argentine national team, showing that the affectionate nickname “Cholito”—given by his father—hides a warrior on the pitch.
This article delves into Giuliano Simeone’s journey, from his first kicks of the ball to his most recent moments of brilliance on the field. We explore his childhood, early steps in youth academies, professional achievements, and challenges overcome. Standing at 1.73 meters and preferring to play as a right winger or center forward, Giuliano combines speed, shooting accuracy, and impressive tactical intelligence. His path is not just one of victories but of overcoming adversity, like the serious injury he faced in 2023. As of October 2025, he has played in key matches, proving the family legacy is merely the starting point for his own story.
Childhood and Family: The Roots of a Talent
Giuliano Simeone’s life began in an unlikely setting for a future Argentine star: Rome, Italy. His father, Diego Simeone, was at the peak of his playing career with Lazio at the time, and it was there, in December 2002, that the youngest of the family was born. But destiny soon led him back to his South American roots. At four years old, Giuliano returned to Argentina with his mother, Carolina Baldini, and his older brothers, Giovanni and Gianluca, both professional players. This move marked the start of a childhood divided between love for football and his father’s occasional absence, as he pursued his career in Europe.
In Argentina, Giuliano grew up in a family environment where football was more than a sport: it was a tradition. Diego, even from afar, encouraged his sons to train tirelessly. “My father always told me that football is 90% effort and 10% talent,” Giuliano shared in an interview years later. The Simeone family is united by the sport—Giovanni plays for Fiorentina, Gianluca for Pisa, and even the older brother Mauro has ties to the football world. But Giuliano, the youngest, always stood out for his determination. He frequented street pickup games in Buenos Aires and dreamed of following in his father’s footsteps, but in his own style.
At eight years old, he was already catching attention in amateur training sessions. His mother, a constant presence, balanced his father’s rigor with affection, ensuring Giuliano had a normal childhood beyond the pitches. This strong family foundation was crucial for handling the pressure of bearing the Simeone surname. At home, conversations revolved around tactics, goals, and life lessons. Diego, even busy with Atlético Madrid, traveled to watch his sons’ games and sent video analyses. This deep connection shaped Giuliano’s character, turning him into a resilient player ready for professional football’s challenges.
Early Career in Youth Academies: From Dreams to River Plate
Giuliano’s first formal step in football came at River Plate, one of Argentina’s giants. At four years old, shortly after returning from Italy, he joined the club’s youth school in Núñez. River, with its academy famous for producing talents like Di María and Enzo Fernández, was the perfect cradle. Giuliano played as a forward, scoring goals with an ease that impressed scouts. “He had a hunger for the ball that I’d never seen in such a young child,” recalled a former youth coach.
In his early years, Giuliano excelled in the under-10 and under-12 categories, where his speed and goal-scoring instinct made him indispensable. He participated in regional tournaments like the Copa Rivalesca and was already compared to his father for his on-field intensity. But life changed in 2019, at 16 years old. An opportunity arose at Atlético Madrid, the club where Diego was coach. River tried to keep him, but with no professional contract signed, FIFA approved the transfer. It was a bittersweet moment: leaving Argentina to join the Colchonero youth team meant trading Buenos Aires’ sunshine for Madrid’s rigor.
In Madrid, Giuliano adapted quickly. He joined the Juvenil A team, Atlético’s top youth category, and began to shine. In the 2019-2020 season, he scored 15 goals in 25 games, helping the team reach the national youth championship semifinals. His refined technique, honed from training with his father, mixed short dribbles and precise finishes. Teammates described him as “a quiet leader,” always motivating the group. These formative years were fundamental: he learned the “Cholista” style—intense, collective, and relentless—that defines Diego Simeone’s Atlético.
Professional Debut: The Leap to the Adult World
The transition to professional came in 2021 with his debut for Atlético Madrid B, the reserve team competing in Spain’s Segunda División B. On January 17 of that year, against UD Poblense, Giuliano came on and scored the opener in a 1-1 draw. It was a milestone: at 18, he showed he was ready for senior level. That season, he netted four goals in 15 appearances, despite the team’s relegation.
2021 was a year of consolidation. After preseason with the first team—training alongside stars like Griezmann and Suárez—he returned to the B team, now in Tercera División RFEF. There, he exploded: between November and December, he scored eight goals in 11 games. Overall, for the reserve team, Giuliano played 51 matches and scored 29 times. His performances caught his father’s eye, who included him in first-team training. “He has the fire we need,” Diego said in a press conference.
His absolute debut for the Atlético first team came on April 20, 2022, in a 0-0 draw against Granada in La Liga. Coming on in the 91st minute, Giuliano barely touched the ball, but the moment was symbolic: father and son together at the same club. At 19, he became part of the squad fighting for the Spanish title. These early steps were about learning, with scarce minutes but full of expectation.
Career at Hellas Verona: First Loan and Italian Adaptation
To gain experience, in July 2022, Giuliano was loaned to Hellas Verona in Italy’s Serie A. It was a natural choice: the Verona club sought young prospects, and Italy, where he was born, offered tactical football suiting his style. His debut was in August against Inter Milan in a 2-1 loss. Despite the defeat, he showed potential, running the entire pitch.
The 2022-2023 season at Verona had ups and downs. Giuliano played 28 Serie A games, scoring three goals and providing two assists. His first elite Italian goal came in October against Monza, a beautiful shot from outside the area that thrilled fans. He adapted well to the league’s pressure, facing tough defenses like Juventus and Roma. Off the field, he reconnected with his Italian roots, visiting Rome and learning more about local culture.
The loan was valuable for his maturation. “Verona taught me to be patient and fight for every ball,” he reflected later. Despite the team battling relegation—finishing 17th—Giuliano gained confidence and returned to Atlético better prepared. His speed in counterattacks and finishing ability made him an ideal substitute for Colchonero forwards.
Loan to Alavés: Overcoming Injury
In July 2023, Giuliano renewed his Atlético contract until 2028 and was loaned to Deportivo Alavés in La Liga for the 2023-2024 season. Alavés, a mid-table team fighting for survival, saw him as a key attacking piece. Preseason started promisingly, but drama struck: on August 6, in a friendly against Burgos CF, a hard tackle from José Joaquín Matos caused a fibula fracture and ankle dislocation. Giuliano was sidelined for months, a trial that tested his resilience.
Recovery was grueling. He underwent surgery and intensive physiotherapy in Madrid, with his father by his side. “Injuries like this make you value every day on the pitch,” he posted on social media. He returned in December, playing 14 league games and scoring one goal—against Cádiz with a precise header. For Alavés, it was 16 games total, with the team securing survival. Despite lost time, the loan helped him gain top-flight experience, handling pressure in decisive matches.
Return to Atlético Madrid: Shining in the 2024-2025 Season
Back at Atlético for the 2024-2025 season, Giuliano finally took on a larger role in his father’s team. His first start came in September against Rayo Vallecano, where he provided an assist. His first goal for the first team was on November 3, 2024, in a 2-0 win over Las Palmas—a well-placed shot sealing the score. It was an emotional moment: Diego hugged him on the bench, and Wanda Metropolitano fans chanted his name.
The Champions League campaign was another highlight. On January 29, 2025, against RB Salzburg, Giuliano scored his first goal in the competition and assisted in a 4-1 rout. His speed dismantled the Austrian defense, showing maturity at the highest level. In La Liga, he contributed goals and assists, helping Atlético contend for the title. In June 2025, he participated in the FIFA Club World Cup, where the team reached the semifinals, and Giuliano came on in key games, scoring against Al-Hilal.
As of October 2025, his stats with the Atlético first team are impressive in limited minutes, becoming a reliable rotation player who enters to change games with his energy.
Playing Style: Speed, Grit, and Intelligence
Giuliano Simeone plays with his father’s DNA: intensity and collectivity. As a right winger, he is lethal in counterattacks, using speed to unbalance defenses. His left foot, surprisingly accurate, is a weapon in mid-range shots and crosses. At 1.73 meters, he compensates for lack of height with agility and positioning.
Analysts compare him to a “modern forward”: he presses high, recovers balls, and finishes coldly. His chance conversion rate is high, and he contributes defensively with an average of 2 tackles per game. “He has his father’s killer instinct but with more technique,” praised a former teammate. Additionally, his game vision makes him good at assists, as seen in 2025.
International Career: Representing the Albiceleste
The Argentine national team is a dream come true. Giuliano represented youth levels from under-15, but the breakthrough came in 2024. For the under-23s, he scored two goals in two games, and at the Paris Olympics, he netted one in the silver medal campaign. His senior debut was on November 19, 2024, against Peru in 2026 World Cup qualifiers—becoming Diego’s second son to wear the blue and white after Giovanni.
His first goal came on March 25, 2025, in a 4-1 win over Brazil, a shot from outside the area silencing the Maracanã. As of October 2025, he has nine caps and one goal for the Albiceleste under Lionel Scaloni. “Playing for Argentina motivates me every day,” he said. His inclusion strengthens the national team’s renewal alongside names like Garnacho and Soule.
Personal Life: Balance Off the Pitch
Off the field, Giuliano is discreet. He lives in Madrid with his girlfriend, a design student, and loves cooking Argentine dishes like empanadas. He is active on social media, sharing training sessions and family moments. His relationship with his father is one of mutual admiration: Diego coaches him rigorously, but outside the club, they are accomplices. In 2025, he celebrated the birth of a nephew by dedicating a goal to him.
Giuliano also engages in social causes, like youth football projects in Buenos Aires. He speaks Italian, Spanish, and fluent English, easing his adaptations. His philosophy? “Football is life, but family is everything.”
Recent Updates: As of October 2025
October 2025 has been magical for Giuliano. On October 27, at Estadio Benito Villamarín, he was decisive in Atlético’s 2-0 win over Real Betis, extending their La Liga unbeaten run to nine games. In the early minutes, a loose ball at the box edge fell to his feet: with his left foot, he spun and volleyed into the corner, opening the scoring. It was a goal of pure class, voted the round’s best.
Named Man of the Match, Giuliano had, up to then, two goals and three assists in 10 season games. Diego Simeone, in a press conference, praised: “He did great work. I’m sure he was happy with his nephew’s birth and dedicated the goal to him. He’s a warrior.” This performance came after a heavy Champions League loss to Arsenal, showing team—and Giuliano’s—resilience as a substitute who shifted momentum.
In the Champions League, he has goals in the group stage, including against Bayern. Rumors of Manchester United interest circulate, but Giuliano states: “My focus is Atlético.” With the Club World Cup in mind for December, 2025 promises more glory.
Conclusion
Giuliano Simeone is more than an idol’s son: he is a consolidated talent ready to soar. From Rome to Wanda, from injuries to decisive goals, his journey inspires. At 22, he has already left his mark in Europe and with Argentina. The future? Titles with Atlético, regular call-ups, and perhaps the 2026 World Cup. The “Cholito” has grown—and football is grateful.
