Santiago Mouriño begins to assimilate his transfer to Atlético. An addition that is not yet official, but that Simeone has already confirmed along with Söyüncü’s to reinforce a center back reduced by injuries. In the case of the Uruguayan, everything suggests that he will go on loan to gain minutes and experience in Europe. However, Cholo wants to see him earlier in the preseason.
Marcelo Bielsa has quoted him with the absolute in the last international break despite the fact that he did not make his debut against Cuba. And, at 21 years old, Mouriño is one of the great promises from Charrúa thanks to his growth at Racing Club. And he attended Sport890 making it clear that he is in a cloud. “I am 21 years old, I still have not fallen, it is hard for me to believe that I am going to go to a top team like Atlético. Until July 4 I stay in Montevideo, there I travel to Spain, I was in contact with Profe Ortega and I’m getting into the plan that happened to me to train before doing the preseason. I spoke with Josema Giménez, he was available for everything I needed, I really appreciate that gesture ”.
His compatriot will act as cicerone on his arrival in Madrid. Giménez has been out with the national team after undergoing a knee arthroscopy that prevented him from participating against Villarreal. An absence that curiously has opened the doors of the absolute to the young Mouriño. “It was a unique experience, I enjoyed the day to day with my teammates in trainingThat experience will stay with me for the rest of my life. Now I am with my head set on Atlético to be able to return ”, indicates the new mattress center-back.
Mouriño recounted his beginnings at the radio station. “I started playing in Baby Fútbol in Belo Horizonte, my father directed there and my brothers played. Then I went to Nacional and until it was time to go to Racing. Getting out of a big box is difficult, you never know how you’re going to do, but what you needed were minutes, I was prepared and luckily I found a club like Racing that was able to offer me the opportunities”, says the young footballer. Regarding Atlético, Mouriño has not yet spoken with Simeone, but he knows what the coach is asking for. “I didn’t have the opportunity to speak to him, we already know what he is asking for with the years he has been at the club and his career and I already have an idea of what he is going to ask of me”.
In a few weeks he will be able to command Cholo and will share a dressing room with Griezmann, Morata and company. “Unthinkable. I played PlayStation with them and imagine sharing the day to day with these players. I think about adapting to the club, to my teammates and that it is the best and that it goes well for me ”. On a possible assignment, Mouriño postponed the moment to decide. “I am going to do the preseason with the team and then they will tell me. For now I don’t know anything, I know that I have to go to the preseason and then they will assess me”. Lastly, the young central defender already imagines himself playing derbies against Real Madrid. “Not play against Benzema? Luckily, but it would also have been nice to face those types of players. A derby would be very nice to play”.