The former Brazilian center back, who played for both Inter and Atlético: “Simeone exuded hunger and determination; Mancini was a gentleman; De Boer wasn’t understood. Luciano, on the other hand, lived in constant fear that people would speak ill of him; he doesn’t like those who have opinions different from his own. We had disagreements about on-field matters, and ever since then…”

João Miranda exceeded all expectations. At age 10, while his mother was wiping away tears at the funeral of her first son, João caught her attention. “I promise I’ll become a soccer player. I’ll honor my brother’s memory.” He kept his promise. Miranda was one of the strongest center backs of his generation, a Europa League champion in 2012 with Atlético and a Champions League finalist in 2014, when Sergio Ramos’s “cabezazo” snatched the trophy—which was already in his grasp—from his hands. “We were the best on set pieces. He scored with a header, in the 93rd minute…” Miranda, 41, speaks to us from São Paulo to recount his time at Atlético and Inter. Four years in Madrid with five trophies, the same number of years in Milan but without winning a single one. “Another big regret.”

Miranda, is soccer still your life?

“Of course, but without nostalgia. I retired at 38 with no regrets. I won titles with São Paulo and Atlético, and I captained Brazil at the 2018 World Cup. I’d like to try my hand at being an agent. Other than that, I follow my sons—they both play soccer. My oldest, João Vitor, is in Slovakia. And he plays center back like his father” .

What a duo Miranda and Godín were!

“Unmatched. I’ll be honest: back then, there was no one like us. Not even Ramos and Varane at Real Madrid or Juventus’s ‘BBC.’ Individually, maybe, but together we were incredibly strong. We were Simeone’s first soldiers—and it actually 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, though, nobody got past us.”

How did you end up in Madrid?

“I was a starter for São Paulo, a team that didn’t concede many goals. Lazio and Milan had also tried to sign me, but Atlético came along with a plan, and I signed six months earlier.”

What was Simeone like in the beginning?

“Just as you see him now. Someone who would rally us in the midfield with his speeches: ‘If you’re the best player on the field, I don’t care if you lose.’ Even so, when we lost, it was a tragedy. It was as if we’d said goodbye to a family member at a funeral. He instilled hunger and determination in us.”

A quick glimpse into his personality?

“I remember how he sat on the bench: always dressed in black, full of adrenaline, passionate. On the field he’s one person; off the field, another. When we ran into him around Madrid—maybe at dinner—he’d hug us and joke around with everyone, but during practice he’d wear us out. An hour and a half of intense training. And you had to give 100%, otherwise he’d tear you apart.”

Which team is stronger—his Atletico or today’s?

“From a technical standpoint, today’s team. We built that Atletico: me, Godín, Courtois, Juanfran, Falcao, Diego Costa. Today’s team goes even beyond the concept of grit and hunger. I like Raspadori, for example: a player with such technical ability can add something to the attack. He could be Simeone’s secret weapon today.”

“El Cholo” has always had a reputation as a “catenacciaro.” As a defender and pillar of your Atletico team, how would you respond to that?

“To look beyond that and watch the games. They’ve said all sorts of things about us over the years. But what matters are the five trophies we won together with him, 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 I needed to improve a lot defensively. I was a bit taken aback—after all, I’d done my part… but he was right. Serie A made me a complete player.”

In 2018, you said, “I’m the best defender in Serie A.” Would you stand by that?

“Of course, I was. My track record speaks for itself.”

Would you play for both Inter and Atlético 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, technically skilled. He’s like me.”

Could you have given more at Inter?

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

In what sense—fear?

“As a coach, no complaints: a winner. He brought Inter back to the Champions League and laid the groundwork for the future, but as a person… let’s not go there. The worst coach I’ve had in Italy in that regard. Mancini was a gentleman; De Boer wasn’t understood. But Spalletti lived in constant fear that someone would speak ill of him. If you think about it, very few players had a good relationship with him.”

Where did you two disagree?

“We argued over on-field issues. He doesn’t like people who oppose him or have different opinions. After that argument, which happened during my last year at Inter, I started playing less and less. He’d put me in the lineup one game out of every two. That makes it hard to stay in shape, especially if you’re only playing in the big games.”

In 2019, he stripped Icardi of the captain’s armband. Partly because of Wanda’s comments.

“Personal stuff. That’s just how he is: I don’t think he puts the team first. Once he sets his sights on you, it’s over. Still, despite what Wanda was saying, Mauro was always professional with us. And he sure could score…”

What regret does he carry with him from his time at Inter?

“Not having won a trophy.”

Any thoughts on Lautaro? He crossed paths with him during his final year with the Nerazzurri, before returning to Brazil.

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

How will the Atlético-Inter match end?

“I’d say it’ll end in a draw. I feel a little more affection for Atlético, but my time in Italy was amazing. Four magical years.”