He's at it again - Simeone involved in another superstar touchline spat after apologisng to Vini Jr

Martin Macdonald

• 13 Feb 2026 05:01 CST
• 4 min read

Nieuws

It seems Diego Simeone isn't a man to learn lessons as he's been involved in another touchline spat with a high-profile superstar.

Atletico Madrid blew Barcelona away in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final tie between the two clubs on Thursday.

The home side came flying out the blocks and went three goals up within 33 minutes after an own goal from Eric Garcia and strikes from Antoine Griezmann and January signing from Atalanta, Ademola Lookman.

With his side 3-0 down, Lamine Yamal walked past the dugout and was goaded by Simeone, who put three fingers in the air to emphasise the scoreline.

📸 IMAGEN @elchiringuitotv | GESTO DE SIMEONE A LAMINE.

El argentino le señaló el número 3 con la mano... tras el tercer tanto del Atleti. pic.twitter.com/ZAOnDlFKq6

— El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) February 12, 2026

Yamal was near the dugout after being surrounded by three Atleti players while attempting to burst down the wing.

The Spaniard took the gesture in decent spirit, it seems, but it's not a great look for Simeone, who has previous for such actions this very season.

Atletico went on to win 4-0 after Julian Alvarez added another.

Simeone versus Vinicius Junior

In the Spanish Supercopa semi-final in Saudi Arabia in January, Real Madrid progressed to the final after beating Atletico 2-1 thanks to goals from Federico Valverde and Rodrygo.

It was a disagreement between Simeone and Vinicius Junior that went viral, though, as when the Brazilian was making his way off the pitch as a substitute, he looked to confront the man in the opposition dugout.

The Atletico head coach had apparently been taunting Vincius throughout the match and suggested that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was going to sell him.

Vinicius Jr wasn't happy with Diego Simeone 😬

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/kMtgNcuL1M

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 8, 2026

“Vini! Vini! Florentino is going to sell you – remember I told you!” the Argentine is said to have told the Real Madrid star, according to COPE.

When Vini Jr was substituted, it is claimed that Simeone told the attacker to listen to the boos from the Real Madrid fans in the stadium.

After the game, speaking to Movistar, Madrid boss Xabi Alonso said: “I didn’t like it. I saw that Cholo had said something to him, and for me, that crosses a line of respect.

“Then I saw he said and I don’t like it when you speak to my team like that. I’m always respectful to players on the other team. It’s not acceptable.”

The former Inter and Atletico midfielder has now apologised to Vini and Perez.

"I would like to apologise to Mr Florentino and Mr Vinicius for the incident they witnessed," said Simeone.

"It was wrong of me to put myself in that position, and I accept that it was wrong. The team that wins deserves to go through; they deserved to go through."

Asked if his behaviour had crossed a line, he added: "I apologise, but I do not ask for forgiveness. I have nothing more to add."

Madrid went on to lose the final 3-2 to Barcelona and Alonso lost his job not long after.

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