From Last Word On Football, Roy Emanuel
Life and football can often follow similar paths, with major decisions laying the foundation for success and failure. In the case of French forward Antoine Griezmann, his choice to remain with Atletico Madrid this summer may have a massive impact across Europe.
Griezmann recently announced that he will be staying in the Spanish capital, acknowledging that the speculation around his future was becoming “irritating”.
Antoine Griezmann’s Difficult Decision With Atletico Madrid
The options were everywhere for the talented striker in the upcoming transfer period, and many signs appeared from the player himself that he would be leaving Atletico. Playing with close friend Paul Pogba at Manchester United or joining Arsene Wenger’s line-up at the Emirates all seemed to be real possibilities for Griezmann in the near future.
Ultimately, he has chosen to stay. Los Rojiblancos will certainly be pleased, and the world around Griezmann is bound to change and evolve due to this decision as well.
A unique challenge in La Liga
One of the most talented clubs in Europe, Atletico Madrid have shown that they can compete with the world’s best during the past few seasons. But years of punching above their weight against Spain’s giants can make for frustrating finishes in various campaigns.
Their well-known city rivals, Real Madrid, captured their second consecutive UEFA Champions League crown and their 33rd La Liga title. In each of the past two Champions League campaigns, Atletico have been defeated by Los Blancos en route to their triumph.
Barcelona, with arguably the greatest front-line in football, present a difficult task in every match and won this past season’s Copa del Rey. Amidst these two tremendous sides, Los Colchoneros find consistent success to be elusive. A league title in 2013-14 aside, Antoine Griezmann will be a part of changing the look of Spain’s top flight.
The transfer ban
One of the motivating elements for Griezmann’s decision comes from Atletico’s transfer ban, upheld in an appeal trail by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The club will be unable to sign any players both internationally and domestically during the summer window.
Suddenly, strikers such as Alexandre Lacazette and Diego Costa that Atletico planned on pursuing after the sale of Griezmann are simply out of the question. Griezmann recognised this, and acted accordingly for a club to which he is still loyal in some respects.
With their star forward still in the line-up, Atletico Madrid’s transfer ban now is not quite as damaging.
The future ahead
Antoine Griezmann still has a fantastic career ahead of him, as the 26-year-old’s pace and skill on the ball have been a key part of manager Diego Simeone’s side at the Vicente Calderon. With so many big clubs interested in his services, the next transfer windows could see him move on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg0ieDMKAFI
In a recent statement, Griezmann clearly left the door open to his potential departure. “There is another beautiful season to be had.” With this statement in mind, the 2017-18 term could be his final campaign with Atletico.
With talent that can completely alter a team’s attack, Antoine Griezmann has been outstanding during the past few years. Now with his decision set for the coming season at Atletico Madrid, he will have another chance at glory with a unique setting and a unique football world around him.
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