Aoba Tanaka 
In a recent revelation, Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann has once again emphasized his keen desire to make a move to Major League Soccer (MLS) before concluding his football career. This declaration follows his previous expressions of interest in the American League earlier this month and reflects a shift in perspective influenced by his time at Barcelona.
Griezmann, who had earlier conveyed a preference for MLS over a move to Saudi Arabia, continues to echo his aspirations to follow in the footsteps of former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi, who joined Inter Miami in the summer.
Griezmann’s Own Words:
Griezmann expressed, “Beyond Europe, what I would like later is the MLS, I have always recognized that. But Atletico will be almost one hundred percent my last club in Europe. It’s where I want to be, where I see myself happiest, and here I am at home.”
The French forward also shared his sentiments about his European career, stating, “I know that the club is in favor of being able to make an effort, and we will talk about it.”
Reflecting on his stint at Barcelona, Griezmann acknowledged the impact it had on his perspective: “When you leave you realize it more. You are happy here, but you don’t realize it and you live your day-to-day life. When you leave and go through a bad stage, you realize what it was, what happened, and you try to return to that affection, that level.”
He continued to express his joy at being back at Atletico Madrid, highlighting the daily enjoyment of training, wearing the club’s badge, and being with his teammates and coach.
Griezmann, who played for Atletico from 2014 to 2019, returned to the club in 2021 after a two-year stint at Barcelona. In his 365 appearances for Atletico, he has scored 173 goals and provided 78 assists. With his current contract set to expire in 2026, Griezmann envisions seeing it through before potentially considering a move to MLS at the end of the next contract.
