Simeone had previously suggested that his compatriot Di Maria was the best of the Santiago Bernabeu bunch, but his £57.9 million move to Manchester United ensures the Rojiblancos will not have to deal with him in Saturday's Madrid derby. Now it seems that Simeone's biggest worry is putting goals past Carlo Ancelotti's captain, who has been subject to a lot of criticism in the past few months over his performances for club and country.
"Now, the player I like most at Real Madrid is Casillas," the Argentine coach told reporters ahead of the 19:00 BST Satuday kick-off.
Ancelotti raised a few eyebrows ahead of the Madrid derby by claiming "football isn't a game for girls" while defending Atletico's style of play and Simeone sees nothing wrong with his opposite number's musings.
"What he said seems normal coming from a colleague," the Vicente Calderon boss added.
"A Madrid side playing at that intense level is a hard one to beat. That is why we always play at that level."
Atletico will be hoping to go undefeated against Real for the third time already this season, having drawn and beaten them in their two Supercopa matches last month.
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