Giménez finds a piece of Uruguay in La Coruña as he racks up minutes with Dépor

Some players arrive in a new city and take months to feel at home. It took José María Giménez just a few weeks to find something familiar in La Coruña. "La Coruña reminds me a lot of my country," the Uruguayan defender admitted, and he wasn't just saying it: he talked about the weather, the coastline, and the walks along the marina that have already become a habit.

The center back joined Deportivo this past September 2, after thirteen seasons wearing the Atlético Madrid jersey. Thirteen years is enough time to get used to a life, a city, a routine. And yet, speaking to reporters, Giménez told a story that captures perfectly how he's settling into his new surroundings.

The other day I ran into a kid at María Pita and asked him, since he had a fishing rod, where you get the gear to go fishing... and we ended up talking for a while.José María Giménez

Details like that, chatting with a stranger about fishing rods on the waterfront, say more than any official statement about how comfortable the Uruguayan feels in his new home. A product of Danubio's academy, Giménez doesn't hide his excitement about this new chapter in his career.

I'm very happy, very content, and hopefully we can have a good year. I came here to add and contribute wherever I'm needed, I said that when I arrived. Honestly, I dream of having a really good season and taking Dépor where it deserves to be.José María Giménez

A starter against Betis, and a draw that sends a message

The adjustment wasn't limited to words. This Sunday, Giménez started in the 1-1 draw against Betis in LaLiga 2026/2027 and turned in a standout performance. Betis went ahead with a goal from Cucho Hernández in the 43rd minute, but Dépor didn't fold and found the equalizer late, in the 87th minute, through Diego Villares.

The Uruguayan broke down the match and didn't shy away from a self-critical take on where the team stands right now. He spoke of a young squad that still needs to loosen up against heavyweight opponents.

We're a very young team. And it's true that sometimes playing a Champions League team makes you a bit too respectful, and that respect can freeze you up a little. But look, we have a team with fantastic players and tremendous quality. And in the second half, that was us, that's Dépor, and that's what we have to show in every match.José María Giménez

The Uruguay national team defender went a step further and pointed to the mental side as the group's real pending challenge. It's not about quality, in his view, but about belief.

"It's a matter of mindset, believing in ourselves. Because we're ready for everything that happened in the match: to suffer together, to attack together, and to come back in games that are going to be very tough," Giménez added, before closing with a line that sounds almost like a rallying cry for the rest of the season: "We need to focus on growing and getting our heads right, because we have to dream, since dreams are there to come true."