The former Brazilian center back, who played for both Inter and Atletico: “Simeone conveyed hunger and determination, Mancini was a gentleman, De Boer was misunderstood. Luciano, on the other hand, lived in fear of people speaking ill of him and didn’t like those who had different opinions to his. We had disagreements about things on the pitch and since then…”

João Miranda exceeded expectations. At the age of 10, while his mother was drying her tears at the funeral of her first son, Joao caught her attention. “I promise you I’ll be a footballer. I’ll honor my brother’s memory.” He kept his promise. Miranda was one of the strongest center backs of his generation, winning the Europa League in 2012 with Atletico and reaching the Champions League final in 2014, when Sergio Ramos’ header snatched the cup from his hands. “We were the best at set pieces. He scored with his head in the 93rd minute…” Miranda, 41, responds from São Paulo to tell us about his Atletico-Inter match. Four years in Madrid with five trophies, the same number in Milan but without winning one. “Another big regret.”

Miranda, do you still live for soccer?

“Of course, but without nostalgia. I retired at 38 with no regrets. I won with São Paulo, with Atlético, and I was captain of Brazil at the 2018 World Cup. I’d like to try my hand at being an agent. Otherwise, I follow my sons: they both play soccer. The eldest, Joao Vitor, is in Slovakia. He plays center back like his father.” .

What kind of pairing was Miranda-Godin?

“Unmatched. I’ll be honest: back then, there was no one like us. Not even Ramos-Varane at Real or the BBC at Juve. Individually, maybe, but together we were very strong. We were Simeone’s first soldiers, and it makes me laugh to call myself that…”

Why is that?

“If I hadn’t become a soccer player, I would have joined the army. With us at the back, no one got past us.”

How did you end up in Madrid?

“I was a starter for São Paulo, which conceded few goals. Lazio and Milan were also interested in me, but Atletico came up with a project and I signed six months earlier.“

What was Simeone like in the beginning?

”Just like you see him now. He would gather us in midfield and say, ‘If you’re the best on the field, I don’t care if you lose. Even though when we lost, it was a tragedy. It was as if we had said goodbye to a family member at a funeral. He instilled hunger and determination in us.“

A snapshot of his personality?

”I remember how he was on the bench: always dressed in black, adrenaline-fueled, passionate. On the field, he’s one person, off the field, he’s another. When we met him around Madrid, maybe at dinner, he would hug us and joke with everyone, but during training he would slaughter us. An hour and a half of intensity. And you had to give 100%, otherwise he would eat you alive.”

Which was stronger, his Atletico or today’s?

“From a technical point of view, today’s. We built Atletico. Me, Godin, Courtois, Juanfran, Falcao, Diego Costa. Today’s goes beyond the concept of determination and hunger. I like Raspadori, for example: someone so technical can add something to the attack. He could be Simeone’s secret weapon today.“

Cholo has always had a reputation for being defensive. As a defender and pillar of your Atletico, how do you feel about that?

”Go beyond that and watch the games. We’ve been called all sorts of names over the years. But what matters are the five trophies we won together, from La Liga to the Europa League.“

Let’s talk about Inter now.

”When I first arrived in 2015, one of Mancini’s assistants told me that I needed to improve a lot defensively. I was a bit taken aback, because I had done something… but he was right. Serie A made me complete.“ In 2018, you said: ”I am the best defender in Serie A.“ Do you stand by that? ”Of course, I was. My history speaks for itself.“ Would you play for both Inter and Atletico today? ”Yes. The best Miranda would be a starter at both clubs. The Nerazzurri have three very strong center backs, but my favorite is Bastoni: fast, technical. He’s like me.“

Could you have given more at Inter?

”It depends on your point of view, but in general I think so. I was a starter under Mancini, De Boer, and Pioli, then Spalletti arrived. He was someone who instilled fear.“

In what sense, fear?

”As a coach, nothing to say: a winner. He brought Inter back to the Champions League and laid the foundations for the future, but as a man… let’s not go there. The worst coach I’ve had in Italy in that sense. Mancini was a gentleman, De Boer was misunderstood. But Spalletti lived in terror that someone would speak ill of him. If you think about it, few players had a good relationship with him.”

What didn’t you agree on?

“We argued about matters on the pitch. He doesn’t like people who go against him and have different opinions. After that argument, which happened in my last year at Inter, I started playing less and less. He would field me every other game. That makes it difficult to get into shape, especially if you only play in important games.”

In 2019, he stripped Icardi of the captain’s armband. This was partly due to Wanda’s statements.

“Personal stuff. That’s how he is: I don’t think he thinks about the team at all. When he targets you, it’s over. However, despite what Wanda said, Mauro was always professional with us. And he scored so many goals…”

What does he regret about his time at Inter?

“Not winning a trophy.”

Any comments on Lautaro? He met him in his last year at Inter, before returning to Brazil.

“One of the five best strikers in the world. He has strength, technique, and quality. He can score at any moment.“

How will Atletico-Inter end?

”I’d say a draw. I have a little more affection for Atletico, but I had a wonderful time in Italy. Four magical years.”