Griezmann's Atletico Madrid Farewell Confirmed by Simeone
Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann is set to depart the club this summer for a move to Major League Soccer's Atlanta United, manager Diego Simeone confirmed in an emotional press conference. The World Cup winner, whose contract is in its final year, will see his time at the Wanda Metropolitano conclude at the end of the season, concluding a storied, two-part, seven-year spell with the Spanish club.
Simeone, in a press conference ahead of Atletico's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Barcelona, paid a glowing tribute to the 33-year-old. The Argentine manager, known for his demanding standards, spoke with unusual warmth about his long-time player. "As a coach and a supporter of Atletico, I want to thank you for your hard work and humility," Simeone said, addressing Griezmann who was present. "You are a role model for today's youth, in a society that needs more people like you. Thank you for everything you have given us."
The manager's words carried a significant emotional weight, given the pair's long and successful history at the club. Simeone, however, quickly returned to his pragmatic, competitive self, adding a characteristic warning to his star forward with a wry smile: "I am your coach, you know that if you don't run tomorrow, you're off." The comment drew a laugh from Griezmann and the gathered press, highlighting the close yet demanding relationship between the two.
Griezmann's move to Atlanta United, which has been heavily reported in recent weeks, will bring an end to his second stint with Atletico Madrid. He first joined the club from Real Sociedad in 2014, becoming a talismanic figure before a high-profile, and ultimately ill-fated, move to Barcelona in 2019. He returned to the Spanish capital on loan in 2021 and made the move permanent the following year, re-establishing himself as the focal point of Simeone's attack. His departure marks the end of an era for Atletico, where he has scored over 175 goals across his two spells, becoming the club's all-time top scorer.
The move to Atlanta United in Major League Soccer represents a new chapter for the 2018 World Cup winner. While the financial terms of the transfer were not disclosed, the move to the five-time MLS Cup champions is seen as a significant coup for the league, bringing one of Europe's most recognizable stars to the United States. For Atletico Madrid, the focus will now shift to finding a long-term replacement for a player who has been central to their success over the past decade. For Simeone, the task is to extract the very last from his veteran forward in the remaining weeks of the season, with a Champions League quarter-final and a top-four La Liga finish still to fight for. The Frenchman's final match for the club could be the Champions League final at Wembley on June 1, a fitting stage for a final farewell.
