France and Atletico Madrid icon Antoine Griezmann has made a name for himself through his fine performances as a second striker in La Liga over the last decade. Now, he is said to be engaged in talks to move to the MLS, following the same path his former Barcelona teammate, Lionel Messi, took.
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According to The Athletic, Major League Soccer (MLS) club Orlando City is keen to rope in Griezmann this year. They hold the MLS discovery rights for the 2018 FIFA World Cup winners and are trying to make the most of their priority to negotiate with the Frenchman.
On the other hand, AFP has claimed that no agreement has been reached between Orlando and Griezmann despite the two parties currently locked in transfer discussions.
Griezmann, whose current deal expires in June 2027, could be sold by Atletico Madrid in the summer transfer window, as he is no longer deemed an untouchable star. He has started just 14 of his 35 total appearances for his side this season, playing in 1558 minutes.
The four-time La Liga Team of the Season participant, who finished third in the Ballon d’Or in 2016 and 2018, has still netted 12 goals for Atletico this term. He has also provided two assists to his club teammates, with both coming in the UEFA Champions League.
After rising to fame at Real Sociedad, Griezmann joined Diego Simeone’s outfit in 2014 and helped them win three trophies in his first stint. He moved to Barcelona in 2019 and played alongside Messi 85 times until the latter’s departure as a free agent in 2021.
The former France international struggled to settle in at Barcelona, and returned to Atletico on a two-year loan in 2021. The 34-year-old attacker permanently joined Los Rojiblancos in 2023 for his second spell and is still in search of his first La Liga title.
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On a different note, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed Messi refused to shake his hand during the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony owing to an ongoing rift.
“The relationship with him isn’t what it used to be. There was also an incident at the Ballon d’Or ceremony where I went to greet him, and he felt we shouldn’t greet each other. Since then, there has been some rapprochement, and hopefully, this will continue in the future. The relationship is strained but he’s a Barcelona legend,” he told Catalunya Radio.
The Inter Miami superstar left Barcelona against his wishes in 2021, breaking down in tears during his final press conference. Since then, the 38-year-old has mostly distanced himself from his former club despite being linked with a return to Hansi Flick’s side.
