Manchester United has made contact regarding Giuliano Simeone, the 27-year-old manager of Atlético Madrid's reserve team, according to multiple sources familiar with the club's coaching search. The approach marks the first confirmed external candidate exploration since INEOS took football operations control in February 2024.
Simeone currently manages Atlético Madrid B in Spain's third tier, where the side sits fourth in Group I with 38 points from 24 matches. He joined the reserve setup in 2023 after three seasons managing lower-division Spanish clubs. His father, Diego Simeone, has led Atlético's first team since 2011, collecting eight major trophies and €80 million in managerial compensation over that span. The son played professionally until 2020, primarily in Argentina's second division.
The timing reveals INEOS uncertainty around Rúben Amorim's 18-month trajectory. United sits 13th in the Premier League with 26 points from 21 matches, the club's worst position at this stage since 1989-1990. Sporting director Dan Ashworth was removed in December after 159 days. Technical director Jason Wilcox now reports directly to CEO Omar Berrada, who joined from Manchester City in July. Sir Jim Ratcliffe's $1.3 billion investment included explicit control over managerial appointments, a departure from the Glazer family's prior autonomy for executive staff.
Giuliano Simeone's name surfaced in London meetings last week, where INEOS football advisors compiled a 12-person shortlist spanning five leagues. The list includes no active Premier League managers. Sources describe the Simeone inquiry as preliminary positioning rather than active negotiation, the kind of call placed when a current manager has 16 months remaining on his contract and the sporting director chair sits empty. Atlético Madrid values its reserve coach's buyout at under €2 million, a figure that includes contract settlement and backroom staff.
The Simeone family's profile in European football complicates United's approach. Diego Simeone earns approximately €24 million annually at Atlético, making him the third-highest-paid club manager globally. His contract runs through 2027. Atlético president Enrique Cerezo described the reserve team as "a laboratory for the first-team philosophy," indicating Giuliano's role serves institutional continuity rather than independent tactical development. United's interest suggests either naiveté about the structural limitations of reserve management or deliberate signaling to Amorim that alternatives exist.
The broader coaching market remains constrained. Xabi Alonso extended at Bayer Leverkusen through 2029 in December. Thomas Tuchel accepted the England position in October. Unai Emery signed an Aston Villa extension in November. Mauricio Pochettino took the United States role in September. The available pool consists primarily of recently dismissed managers—Thomas Frank's Brentford contract talks stalled in January—or second-tier prospects.
United's January transfer activity adds context. The club spent €65 million net acquiring three players, the highest winter outlay among Premier League clubs this season. Amorim received each requested target. That investment implies either genuine backing or expensive optionality: spend now, replace the manager in May with the squad already refreshed.
Watch Atlético Madrid's reserve fixtures through March, when the Spanish third-tier season concludes playoff positioning. United's managerial decision likely comes before May 25, the final Premier League matchday, when retained list deadlines force contract clarity. Berrada is expected to attend Atlético's Champions League round-of-16 second leg in March, ostensibly for the Rúben Amorim scouting network, though the calendar accommodates other conversations.
Giuliano Simeone's agent, Eugenio López, represents 14 coaches across La Liga and Serie A. He was in Manchester last Tuesday.
The takeaway
United's contact with a **27-year-old** reserve coach signals INEOS optionality planning, not immediate Amorim replacement.
Editorial & Disclosure Notice: This article was written with artificial intelligence from public sources and is published without individual human review. Artificial intelligence and other digital tools are also used for research, analysis, editing, formatting, and production. Errors, omissions, outdated information, or inaccuracies may occur. References to companies, brands, products, services, organizations, or individuals are for informational and editorial purposes and do not imply endorsement, sponsorship, affiliation, partnership, or approval unless expressly stated. All trademarks and other intellectual property remain the property of their respective owners. Opinions, analysis, estimates, and commentary are informational only and should not be construed as financial, investment, legal, tax, medical, procurement, or other professional advice. Information may be corrected, clarified, or updated after publication. Corrections or removal requests: jenny@pops4.com.
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