Orlando<\/a> still hold Griezmann\u2019s discovery rights (the priority to sign him), but his decision to wait until the summer to decide on his future has caught the eye of other potential suitors. According to the report, Inter Miami<\/a> and CF Montr\u00e9al have added the two-time Ballon d\u2019Or <\/a>podium finisher to their shortlist of potential summer recruits. <\/p>\n Weeks ago it seemed like it was only a matter of time before Griezmann was seen donning Orlando\u2019s purple shirt. Now, wearing pink might be in his future. But what changed?<\/p>\n Why Antoine Griezmann\u2019s Move to Orlando City Stalled Antoine Griezmann is 90 minutes away from an unprecedented career milestone. | Jose Breton\/Pics Action\/NurPhoto\/Getty Images<\/p>\n In late February, reports suggested Griezmann was in \u201cadvanced talks\u201d<\/a> to join Orlando, with the team pushing for the transfer to materialize before the end of MLS\u2019s primary transfer<\/a> window on March 26.<\/p>\n According to ESPN<\/a>, Orlando were so keen on Griezmann joining the them immediately to avoid a bidding war later in the summer that their offer was entirely dependent on the player joining the club in March. <\/p>\n Griezmann was considering his options, but according to the report, Diego Simeone and Atl\u00e9tico Madrid\u2019s hierarchy intervened to try and convince the club\u2019s all-time leading goalscorer to stay put until the end of the season. <\/p>\n Then, Atl\u00e9tico Madrid vanquished Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semifinals and that all but closed the door on Griezmann leaving Atl\u00e9ti halfway through the season. The Frenchman is an undisputed club legend, but he\u2019s only won one Europa League title during his eight-plus seasons with Los Rojiblancos. <\/p>\n The Copa del Rey represents arguably Griezmann\u2019s last chance of lifting a domestic trophy with Atl\u00e9ti<\/a>, which would be the perfect send-off for a player that means so much to the club. <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t have to repeat how important Antoine is for us,\u201d Simeone said recently. \u201dWe all know it. He\u2019s in a position where he should get to decide whatever he wants to do.\u201d<\/p>\n Miami Interested in Messi, Griezmann Reunion Messi (right) and Griezmann were teammates for two seasons in Barcelona. | Eric Alonso\/MB Media\/Getty Images<\/p>\n If Miami do end up making a move for the 34-year-old Frenchman in the summer, he\u2019d become Messi\u2019s fourth former Barcelona<\/a> teammate that joins him in South Florida, following in the footsteps of Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Su\u00e1rez. <\/p>\n Griezmann spent two seasons in Barcelona from 2019\u201321 playing alongside Messi. It was a turbulent time for the club and the 2020\u201321 Copa del Rey title was the only trophy they won together during that brief stint together in Catalonia. <\/p>\n Ironically, those were the final two seasons Messi played in Barcelona before his infamous goodbye. Many believed Griezmann would have to step up into a more prominent role upon Messi\u2019s departure, but the Frenchman left on loan back to Atl\u00e9tico Madrid later that same summer, in another desperate Bar\u00e7a attempt to try and stabilize their dismal financial situation. <\/p>\n![\"Antoine](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/01kk4kwrvd68pvjtw0f9.jpg\" "\\"Antoine")
<\/p>\n![\"Lionel](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/01kk4n6psk19jb236fkn.jpg\" "\\"Lionel")
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