Gio Simeone: My feeling for Atletico Madrid is separate to my father being there

Giovanni Pablo Simeone, son of Atletico Madrid coach Diego, has been one of the early stars of this season's Serie A and he has declared himself to be a big fan of the club his father coaches.

Gio Simeone, who wears No.9 for Cagliari, has five goals in seven games in Serie A this campaign, putting him near the top of the goalscoring charts, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Speaking to MARCA Sport Weekend, Simeone junior talked about his life and career.

Q: You have said that you'd like to go to Atletico Madrid even if your father wasn't there...

A: The feeling I have for Atletico is separate to what I feel because my father is there. Since I was little I was always a fan of the club my father was at: Estudiantes, River, Catania...but something about Atletico stayed with me. I carried it with me.

When he played I put on the shirt and was one more fan. Then my father returned [to Atletico] and the feeling grew stronger. It's curious. I've never played or even lived in Spain, but I feel like Atletico is a second home to me. And that makes me happy.

Q: You seem to be enjoying it at Cagliari, but we'd like to see you in LaLiga Santander. Can you see yourself in Spain in the future?

A: I hope so. I'm happy at Cagliari, but I am keen to move at some point in my career in order to keep growing. I like Spain and England a lot. Playing in other countries makes you a better player. If that's in Spain, it will be very welcome.

Q: At 25-years-old, you've racked up 150 games and 50 goals in Serie A. Valdano said that a forward who scores in Italy can score anywhere...

A: My dad always said to me that in Serie A I would learn a lot. He insisted that in Italy goals are worth double. He always said the same.

I haven't been in another [European] league, but in Italy you work hard, there's a lot of belief in teamwork. That's what I like best, what I'm learning, it's helping me develop and I'm focused on that, keeping growing, because that's the way.