ANTOINE GRIEZMANN APOLOGIES TO ATLETICO MADRID FANS AHEAD OF SUMMER EXIT - "IT WAS A MISTAKE TO GO TO BARCELONA"

 

It was an emotional farewell for Griezmann as he addressed the fans in a special ceremony after full-time. Photo by Javier SORIANO / AFP via Getty Images

On Sunday, Antoine Griezmann made his final appearance at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano as an Atletico Madrid player. The 35-year-old, who is the club’s all-time top goalscorer, has already agreed to join MLS side Orlando City in the summer, thus bringing to an end a 10-year career across two spells.

After Sunday’s match against Girona, which Atleti won 1-0 with Griezmann providing the assist for Ademola Lookman’s goal, the Frenchman gave an emotional speech to the home crowd, and as per Sport, he started it by once again apologising for his decision to join Barcelona in the summer of 2019.

“First, thank you all for staying. This is amazing. Second, and something very important to me, I know that many did and some still did not, but I ask your forgiveness again. I didn’t realize the affection I had here. I was very young. It was a mistake (to go to Barcelona), I reconsidered and we did everything to come back and enjoy it again.”

Griezmann pays special tribute to Simeone and Koke

Griezmann also took the time to pay tribute to those that have helped him during his time at Atleti, such as Diego Simeone, Koke Resurreccion and his family.

“To the coaching staff and to the one who changed everything at this club: Don Diego Pablo Simeone. Thanks to you there is a lot of enthusiasm and I was world champion and I felt the best in the world. I owe you a lot and it has been an honour to fight for you. I don’t know if I’m a legend, but you, Koke, are a legend of this club. My wife, my wife too. Thank you for supporting me in my bad days and holding my anger in defeats. I love you.

“I also thank my parents, who took me all over France to play. Thanks to them I am here enjoying football. I haven’t been able to bring a league or a Champions League, but this affection is better for me. I’ll take it for the whole trip. Now, I’m done. Fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts, thank you very much for bringing the children here, to teach them that Atleti is the best in the world. Thank you.”

- John Menzies

ANTOINE GRIEZMANN TRAVELS TO USA TO FINALIZlSE ATLETICO MADRID EXIT

Antoine Griezmann has decided to leave Atletico Madrid at the end of the season, and he will continue his career in the MLS. The 35-year-old, who is Los Colchoneros’ record goalscorer, will take advantage of the international break to define his future, as he readied himself to leave the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

Earlier this year, Griezmann was the subject of intense interest from Orlando City, who wanted to sign him for the start of the 2026 MLS season. However, the former France international took the decision to see out the remainder of the European campaign with Atleti, who have aspirations to win the Champions League and Copa del Rey.

Nevertheless, Griezmann has now decided that he will fulfil his dream of playing in the MLS, as Marca have reported that he has given the green light to join Orlando City this summer. He will travel to the United States in the coming days to finalise his contract with the Florida-based club, with Atleti having given him permission to do so.

Griezmann will leave Atleti on free transfer

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Atleti will not make his difficult for Griezmann to leave, as they have already decided that he can leave without a transfer fee being needed – despite the fact that he is contracted at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano until the summer of 2027. They see it as a debt of gratitude for one of the best players in their history, given that he has asked to end his time at the club at this moment.

Griezmann’s influence at Atleti has gradually waned in the last couple of years, so it is probably the right time for him to move on. Nevertheless, he will be a big miss for Diego Simeone, who will now task the club’s sporting director Mateu Alemany to find an acceptable replacement.

COPA DEL REY: BARCELONA, ATLÉTICO MADRID PLAY OUT THRILLING 4-4 DRAW IN FIRST LEG OF SEMI- FINAL

Barcelona surged to a 4-2 lead against Atletico after conceding two goals in the opening six minutes, only for Diego Simeone’s side to fight back in the closing minutes of the pulsating encounter in Barcelona on Tuesday.
Atletico Madrid conceded a two-goal lead then fought back from two down in a wild 4-4 draw with Barcelona in a Copa del Rey semi-final first leg thriller on Tuesday.

Barcelona's Gavi (centre) fights for the ball with Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez, left, and Marcos Llorente. AP

After Diego Simeone’s side scored twice in the opening six minutes through Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann, Barca raced through the gears in a high-octane performance.

The superb Pedri Gonzalez pulled one back with Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez and Robert Lewandowski going on to score.

Marcos Llorente netted for Atletico before Alexander Sorloth struck in the 93rd minute.

- Agence France-Presse

FRANCE AND NETHERLANDS DRAW LEAVING THE GROUP WIDE OPEN

 France and the Netherlands played out a 0-0 draw in their second Group D game of Euro 2024 on Friday, with neither side yet guaranteed a place in the last 16.

Antoine Griezmann, captaining the side with Kylian Mbappe on the bench after breaking his nose against Austria, had an excellent chance in each half but twice stumbled over the ball.

Both sets of fans had cause to celebrate - the Dutch when Xavi Simons found the net in the second half and the French when the effort was ruled out for offside - and, despite both sides pushing for a winner, they had to be content with a point each.

France and the Netherlands are level on four points at the top of the group standings, with Austria on three, while Poland have no points and cannot advance. France face Poland in their final group game with the Dutch taking on Austria.

- Reuters 

ATLETICO MADRID LACKED REAL MADRID, MAN CITY SCORING TOUCH

Diego Simeone confronted Sebastian Kehl during Atletico Madrid’s win over Borussia Dortmund (Getty)

 

 Coach Diego Simeone praised Atletico Madrid's performance in their 2-1 Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund, but lamented his side's inability to take the chances which could have given them a greater advantage in the quarterfinal tie.

Atletico dominated much of the first leg at the Metropolitano on Wednesday, with Rodrigo de Paul putting them ahead in the fourth minute and Samuel Lino making it 2-0 after half an hour.

Both Antoine Griezmann and Lino had opportunities to extend their lead, before Dortmund pulled a late goal back through substitute Sebastian Haller and hit the woodwork twice, to give them hope going into next Tuesday's return leg in Germany.

"Every tie in this round has been very even: [Real Madrid v Manchester] City, [Arsenal v] Bayern, [Paris Saint-Germain v] Barca. And ours too," Simeone told Movistar. "We saw it in the game between Manchester City and Real Madrid above all, they're among the best teams in the last eight. They're amazing, every time they get close to the goal, they score, and that makes the difference.

"We had 60 or 70 very good minutes, and it's normal to have some moments where the opponent can do something. They did that, and they could have got the draw."

Simeone defended out-of-form forward Álvaro Morata, who has only scored one goal since January after an exceptional first half of the season.

"There are things that you can't explain, which are natural," Simeone said in his post-match news conference. "Alvaro had six impressive months from July to January. Now he's in a more difficult moment, he isn't finding the goal, but he's working hard and through that work, the goals will come."

Morata's strike partner Griezmann was treated with an ice pack on his right ankle after the game, but said he expected to be fit for Atletico's LaLiga clash with Girona on Saturday.

"We won, and that's the important thing," Griezmann told Movistar. "It doesn't matter what happened at the end [of the game], it's a shame we conceded a goal, but it's very important to win in a Champions League quarterfinal.

"I'm being treated now and I'll rest well. We have the best physios in Europe to help me be at my best for Saturday."

If Atletico eliminate Dortmund, they'll face the winners of the tie between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, which the LaLiga side lead 3-2 after the first leg, in the semifinals, raising the prospect of Griezmann going up against his former club.

"That would mean a lot for LaLiga and Spanish football," Griezmann said, "But the most important thing is us getting to the semis. It won't be easy."

- Alex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez

HAPPY ANTOINE GRIEZMANN & 3 OF HIS KIDS

ANTOINE GRIEZMANN TO WEAR NO. 8 AT ATLETICO DE MADRID LIKE THE BASKETBALL BALL LEGEND KOBE BRYANT

 

EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL 2018: ANTOINE GRIEZMANN SHINES AS MARSEILLE GO DOWN 3-0

Atletico Madrid lifted the Europa League Cup for the 3rd time in 9 years thanks to Antoine Griezmann...

ANTOINE GRIEZMANN: ATLETICO MADRID STAR TO STAY FOR ANOTHER SEASON

Antoine Griezmann will stay at Atletico Madrid for another season...

EPL: JOSE MOURINHO AND ARSENE WENGER WILL FACE-OFF FOR ANTOINE GRIEZMANN COME NEXT JUNE/JULY/AUGUST

Antoine Griezmann the France sensation is sought after by two top managers in the premier league, Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger...Come summer time (northern hemisphere) the two are going after France's top prize and according to Mirror Arsenal will dish out 60 million pounds  for Griezmann but due to a buy out clause of 80.5 million pounds got the London club eyeing the player...

The 25 year-old French international has become a hot commodity after performing well for his La Liga side Atletico Madrid and his nation France...He is due up to 2021 with the Spanish side but he has had contact with Arsene Wenger several times whereby Manchester United are willing to break the bank once again...

Griezmann will vacate Atletico Madrid if Diego Simione also leaves...Simione is a good candidate for Arsenal when Wenger decides to call it quits.

UEFA AWARDS: CRISTIANO RONALDO IS THE BEST PLAYER IN EUROPE

Cristiano Ronaldo is Uefa's Best Player in Europe for the second time...Ronaldo won the Champions League and Euro 2016 last season...Gareth Bale and Antoine Griezmann were beaten by Ronaldo in the voting...Lyon and Norway striker Ada Hegerberg won the Women's Award...

EURO 2016: ANTOINE GRIEZMANN ATAJWA NA UEFA KUWA MCHEZAJI WA EURO 2016

Antoine Griezmann amekuwa mchezaji bora katika michuano iliyoisha hivi karibuni ya Euro 2016...Uefa wamemtunuku mchezaji bora wa mashindani kwahiyo anaongezea taji lingine baada ya kupewa Golden boot kwa kuongoza kwa mabao...Griezmann mwenye umri wa miaka 25 aliongoza kwa kufunga mabao 6...Griezmann ni striker wa Atletico Madrid...Bofya hapa upate habari zaidi.

EURO 2016: FRANCE YAIGARAGAZA VIBAYA ICELAND

France wamewagaragaza Iceland 5-2 na kuingia nusu fainali za Euro 2016 ambapo watakutana na Germany ndni ya Marseille Alhamisi ijayo...

Watu walibaki wakishangaa kuwa France wanaenda mapumziko wakiwa wanaongoza 4-0...France iliamua kucheza mpira wa ukweli na kila mchezaji alijitolea asilimia 100...

Giroud alianza kutingisha nyavu dakika ya 12 akifuatiwa na kichwa cha Paul Pogba dakika ya 19 na badae Dimitri Payet wa West Ham alipachika bao upande wa kulia...

Griezmann alipachika bao zuri sana ambapo aliwaacha mabeki na kupiga mpira juu ya kipa dakika ya 45...Bofya hapa upate habari zaidi.

EURO 2016: FRANCE YASHINDA KWA MBINDE

Timu ya France imefanikiwa kuifunga ya Albania 2-0 na kufanikiwa kuchukua nafasi ya kwanza katika group lake...Kujiakikishia kuingia katika round ya pili ya timu 16 tu...Antoine Grienzmann ndio mchezaji wa kwanza kuipatia Ufaranza bao la kwanza katika dakika ya 90 na baada ya dakika 5 za nyongeza Dimitri Payet akaongeza goli la pili lililoisambaratisha timu ya Albania...

Pamoja na ushindi mambo hayakuwa rahisi sana kwa France kwani walikoswakoswa sana na Albania...Giroud alikosa mabao ya wazi katika nafasi ambazo alitakiwa kufuna...

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINALS 2016: REAL MADRID MABINGWA

Real Madrid wamenyakua kombe kubwa kuliko yote la Champions League jana usiku....Real Madrid walifanikiwa kuwachapa Atletico Madrid kwenye matuta 5-3...Cristino Ronaldo ndie aliyefunga goli la mwisho kwenye tuta...Real walianza mpira kwa kushambulia sana lakini beki ya Atletico Madrid ilikuwa makini sana na waliweza kutuliza kasi ya Real...

Real ndio walioanza kufunga dakika ya 15 kupitia Sergio Ramos bao ambali lilikuwa na utata kutokana na kuwa offside na badae nyota wa Atletico Antoine Griezmann alikosa penalty...Badae dakika ya 76 sub Yannick Carrasco aliwaweka level Atletico...

Atletico Madrid wamepoteza nafasi kubwa kwani walicheza vizuri kuliko Real Madrid...Mpaka mwisho wa dakika za nyongeza walikuwa sare 1-1...

Ni mara ya 11 Real Madrid wanabeba hii kombe kubwa Ulaya...Atletico Madrid wamefika fainali mara 3 bila kuchukua kombe na ni mara nyinngi kuliko timu yoyote...

Ni ushindi wa kwanza wa kocha Zinedine Zidane ambae alikuwa mchezaji wa Real miaka ya nyuma na ni kocha wa kwanza kutoka France kushinda Champions League...Bofya hapa upate habari zaidi.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2016: ATLETICO MADRID NDANI YA FAINALI

Mechi ngumu ya nusu fainali ilikuwa kati ya Bayern Munich na Atletico Madrid...

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2016: FORMER CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CHAMPS FC BARCELONA THROWN OUT

Barcelona has been thrown out of the Champions League after being beat 2-0 by Atletico Madrid.