Hollywood can wait: Griezmann stays at Atlético to chase trophies | OneFootball

The MLS transfer window closes on Thursday, but Antoine Griezmann will not be leaving Atlético Madrid. According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, Orlando City’s three-year Designated Player bid was shelved after a call with Diego Pablo Simeone.

Atlético face Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final in Seville on 18 April and Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals. On 4 March, after progressing from the semi-finals despite a 3-0 loss at Camp Nou thanks to a 4-0 first leg, Griezmann told Simeone he would stay to try to sign off with a trophy.

This season he has been managed for impact rather than volume, starting only 16 of 42 games. He has 13 goals and five assists in 1,928 minutes, averaging a goal every 107 minutes.

Many at the club had expected an exit after his reduced prominence since last spring. Griezmann has acknowledged that period was tough, that it took time to recover his level, and that he is now enjoying his football and ready to contribute.

A pre-season conversation set out an impact-sub role, which he accepted. Mateu Alemany later underlined his importance in the new Apollo-backed project and the intent to compete for silverware this season.

Orlando kept pushing, but as he turns 35 on Saturday and with 487 Atlético appearances, he has chosen to stay at the Metropolitano. Already the club’s record league scorer on 210, he now targets the Cup and, perhaps, Budapest. The United States can wait.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo