Atletico Madrid forward and Orlando City target Antoine Griezmann has confirmed that he will stay at the La Liga club until this summer at least, with Atletico coach Diego Simeone suggesting that the team winning this season’s Copa del Rey could be an extra special finale for the club legend.
The Athletic reported in February that the MLS club was in advanced discussions over a move for the 34-year-old, with Orlando sporting director and general manager Ricardo Moreira travelling to Spain multiple times to work on a potential deal.
As speculation has continued through recent weeks Griezmann has said nothing publicly, while continuing to contribute for the team, including a fine goal and assist in Atletico’s 5-2 Champions League last 16 first leg victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday evening at the Metropolitano.
Speaking on Movistar TV after that game, Griezmann was asked if he was going to continue at Atletico – where he is the club’s record ever goalscorer with 210 goals in 484 games in two spells.
“I’m really good here, enjoying myself a lot,” the former France international replied. “What I do on the pitch speaks for me by itself. We’ll see but the idea is to stay until the end, and then others can speak.”
The MLS primary transfer window has been open since January 26 and closes on March 26, while Atletico have qualified to face Real Sociedad in Spain’s Copa del Rey final on April 18.
Pressed to confirm that he would stay at Atletico for that final, Griezmann replied in the affirmative.
“That’s my dream and my objective, to hopefully we can achieve something big,” he said.
Sources briefed on the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, have indicated that Orlando accepts that the move is unlikely at this stage and will look to revisit the deal in the summer window which opens on July 13 and shuts on September 2.
Griezmann’s contract in the Spanish capital runs until 2027, having signed an extension last summer. Speaking at his post-game press conference, Atletico coach Simeone was asked to react to him having said he would stay until the summer at least.
“I’m very happy with how Antoine is applying himself,” Simeone said. “He knows how important he is for Atletico Madrid’s history. I hope he can finish up as he deserves, in the best way possible, and that we can help him by finishing this season in an extraordinary way.”
Orlando was one of four MLS clubs to express interest in Griezmann, per sources, though Orlando holds his MLS discovery rights, giving them first claim at signing him.
Griezmann has made 40 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring 13 goals and providing four assists. He has often been used as a substitute in La Liga, but has started important games recently – such as the recent Copa del Rey semi-finals against Barcelona, in which he scored a fine goal as Barca won the first leg 4-0.