Griezmann appears set to leave Atlético at the end of the season, with the update describing a transfer to Orlando City as already agreed for the summer. While the move has not been presented as official by the clubs in this update, the tone around Sunday’s match was unmistakable: this was a goodbye.
His speech underlined that sense of closure. “Primeiro, obrigado a todos por terem ficado. Isso é incrível”, Griezmann said before returning to the subject that has shaped much of his relationship with the fanbase since 2019. He admitted he had misjudged what he was leaving behind when he joined Barcelona and made forgiveness the centre of his final message.
This is not just another veteran exit. Griezmann leaves Atlético after two spells and as the club’s all-time leading scorer, a status that places him among the defining figures of the Simeone era. That is why his words carried weight. “À comissão técnica e àquele que mudou tudo neste clube: Don Diego Pablo Simeone”, he said, crediting the Atlético coach with transforming both the club and his own career.
He also made sure to salute captain Koke directly: “Não sei se eu sou uma lenda, mas você, Koke, é uma lenda deste clube”.
The next step is for the summer move to be formalised. Until then, Atlético are closing an era and Griezmann is closing a circle - from controversial departure, to return, to reconciliation. His final line said plenty about how he now sees the club: “Não consegui trazer uma liga nem uma Champions League, mas esse carinho é melhor para mim.”