Transfermarkt Q&A
If Antoine Griezmann plays 50% of the games in which he is available, Atlético’s obligation to buy him will come into effect – and the French World Cup winner’s second spell at the Spanish top club will continue. At the moment, everything looks as if financially strapped FC Barcelona can look forward to a transfer fee of €40 million next year. In a Transfermarkt Q&A, the 30-year-old forward, who has recently been forced to take a break due to injury and Covid-19, talks about the conditions for staying with the Colchoneros longer, a move to the German Bundesliga and his appreciation for head coach Diego Simeone.
Transfermarkt: Mr. Griezmann, it gives the impression that it’s the best match between you and Atlético – that seemed to be less the case at FC Barcelona. What does Atlético mean to you, and what does the club offer you that other clubs can’t?
Antoine Griezmann: The truth is that I performed well at Real Sociedad, then I grew athletically and also privately at Atleti, with my wife, with my children… That helps you be more relaxed and enjoy everything. And then I went to Barcelona. Because of the circumstances, things didn’t go as well as I had hoped. That’s why I wanted to come back, to play for Cholo (Diego Simeone) and Atleti again. That’s what I wanted the most, and the truth is that I’m really enjoying it here and I hope I can continue like this.
This interview has been arranged in cooperation with Betway Sportwetten
Transfermarkt: Were you considering a move to the German Bundesliga in the past?
Griezmann: No, not really. I’ve never thought about it, because since my time at Real Sociedad I’ve always felt comfortable where I was, and in the end, I feel most comfortable and happy here at Atleti now. And I don’t want to move again.
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Transfermarkt: You will be 31 years old in March. Wouldn’t it be a possibility for you to go to another top club in another country?
Griezmann: I hope Atleti want me as long as I can keep up with the pace of the games and the demanded level, and that we can write another beautiful story.
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Transfermarkt: What was the best decision in your professional career?
Griezmann: For me, there are two. Namely, on the one hand, doing everything I could to get my parents to let me go to Real Sociedad when I was 14, which was very difficult because of the distance. On the other hand, it was the move to Atleti that changed my life.
Transfermarkt: Which coach impresses you the most?
Griezmann: I would say it’s Cholo. I think he’s the coach who knows me best. I have an incredible relationship with him, and also on a sporting level he has always fought with the best, in the Spanish league or in Europe. He has taken the club to the highest level possible.
