Antoine Griezmann eager to end European career at Atletico Madrid

By Sports Desk December 27, 2023

Antoine Griezmann has said Atletico Madrid “will be almost 100 per cent” the last club he plays for in Europe.

The 32-year-old France forward, in his second spell with Los Colchoneros, is enjoying a stellar season in LaLiga, ending the year as leading scorer (21) and assist-maker (16).

He also became Atletico’s joint all-time leading scorer earlier this month when equalling Luis Aragones’ record of 173 goals in the recent 3-3 draw with Getafe.

Griezmann, who has already revealed he wants to sign a new deal with Atletico, told Spanish sports newspaper AS: “Yes, that’s what I said. I know the club is in favour of being able to make an effort and we will talk about it.

“Beyond Europe, what I would like later is the MLS (Major League Soccer), I’ve always recognised that.

“But Atletico will be almost 100 per cent my last club in Europe. It’s where I want to be, where I look the happiest and here I am at home.”

Griezmann said he only recently became aware how close he was to Aragones’ goal-scoring record.

“I haven’t been thinking about it,” he said. “In the summer, when I found out that I was 16 goals behind, maybe yes.

“I thought that if I had a good season I could do it, but I didn’t see myself getting it in December. When you have something in your head you get closer to the box, to the opponent’s goal and you want to score goals.

“I still don’t think about it much. I don’t want to spoil things either, but it will be something inexplicable about emotions and everything. I’d rather that day come and (then) enjoy it to the fullest.”

Griezmann became the sixth most expensive player in history at the time when he left Atletico to join Barcelona for £107million in 2019.

Los Colchoneros re-signed him on a contract until 2026 in October 2022, having initially returned to the Madrid club on a two-year loan deal at the start of the 2021-22 season.

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