Antoine Griezmann to depart Atletico Madrid after Champions League semi-final

Antoine Griezmann is set to leave Atletico Madrid at the conclusion of the 2025–26 season to join Orlando City in Major League Soccer. Despite the impending transfer to the United States, the 35-year-old French forward has requested to remain in Madrid until the end of the campaign to properly say goodbye to the club where he has made 494 appearances and scored 212 goals.

This departure marks the end of a long tenure for the France international, who spent his entire club career in Spain before joining the MLS side. During a press conference ahead of the quarter-final against Barcelona, Atletico coach Diego Simeone paid an emotional tribute to Griezmann, a rare display of sentimentality for the Argentine manager. Simeone described the forward as an admirable role model and the club's greatest player, thanking him for his hard work and humility.

Griezmann, who has won the Spanish Super Cup, Europa League, and UEFA Super Cup with the club, is now hoping to add the Champions League to his trophy cabinet. He aims to lead Atletico to victory against Arsenal in the semi-final first leg, which is expected to be his final match for the Spanish club. The request to stay in Madrid ensures the forward can enjoy his last matches in red and white before his move to Orlando City.

The narrative of Griezmann's career at Atletico is complex, involving a return from a two-year spell at Barcelona in 2021 before making the move permanent the following year. His legacy extends beyond the silverware, as he is regarded as the most complete expression of what the club stands for. Simeone spoke about him with genuine emotion, noting that Griezmann embodies the perfect Atletico footballer through total commitment and relentless work-rate.

Interestingly, the path to Madrid was not the only option available to the 2018 French World Cup-winner. In his autobiography, Griezmann revealed that he nearly joined Arsenal under Arsène Wenger in 2013 before the transfer window closed. He later rejected a renewed interest from the London club, a decision that ultimately led to his move to Simeone's Atletico for a fee believed to be worth 30m euros.

While his time in Madrid has not been defined by a long list of major silverware, his legacy is built on representing the ideal Atletico footballer. After beating Barcelona in the quarter-finals, Griezmann ran out of the tunnel to applaud the fans and celebrate with his teammates, an emotional expression of thanks to those who have stood by him throughout his time at the club.