New Country, New Challenges: Gallagher’s Early Days with Atletico
Landing in Madrid as a high-profile signing is enough pressure on its own. For Conor Gallagher, the first five months at Atletico Madrid have swung between nerve-racking and downright surreal. On the pitch, he’s thrown headlong into Diego Simeone's famously demanding system—endless tactical drills, rigid high pressing, and little room for error. Simeone, never one to hand out participation trophies, has reportedly taken a hands-on approach with Gallagher, making sure the England midfielder doesn’t get lost in translation when it comes to his role in Atletico’s midfield grid.
One training ground regular says Simeone constantly calls Gallagher over for one-on-one chats—sometimes in a blend of Italian and Spanish—to explain defensive positioning and how to time the pressing triggers the Atlético way. Gallagher’s got above-average stamina and aggression, just what Simeone loves, but the tiny in-game details? That’s where the real learning curve lives.
The Language Barrier, Teammate Support, and Freddy the Dog
Settling in off the field might've been even trickier. Gallagher, like a lot of English signings abroad, came with little Spanish. He’s leaned hard on teammates—some Brits in the squad and even a couple of veteran Spaniards who speak decent English. One teammate described the group as acting like "older brothers," translating instructions in the moment, and guiding him through the everyday grind: ordering food, joking with staff, even navigating Spanish bureaucracy.
Spanish media picked up on his group dinners with teammates—Gallagher might be quiet in the press area, but he’s working overtime to fit in socially. The club even arranged optional language lessons, which he’s stuck with, saying he can now follow team talks and shout basic instructions back during games.
The most personal hurdle? Moving his dog Freddy to Madrid. Gallagher, used to British comfort and his small family circle, couldn’t imagine leaving Freddy behind. So, he chartered a private jet just for Freddy’s trip, drawing a mix of Spanish tabloid curiosity and nods from teammates who know what homesickness feels like. For Gallagher, having Freddy around was a subtle anchor as he built a daily rhythm in his new city—walks along the Manzanares, ball games in a local dog park, and a bit of home in an unfamiliar landscape.
While his debut months have come with stumbles—linguistic misfires, a couple on-field mistakes, and awkward supermarket trips—Gallagher's adaptability has stood out. His on-field responsibilities are growing as Simeone's trust builds, and having cracked the hardest part for most footballers abroad—the mix of tactical, cultural, and personal adjustment—his place in the squad is starting to look more permanent. Even Freddy, now a regular sight on Madrid’s boulevards, seems to have found his place in the Spanish sun.