Antoine Griezmann brought his Atletico Madrid career to an emotional close on Sunday, apologising to supporters for leaving the club for Barcelona in 2019 during his farewell appearance at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
The 35-year-old forward is set to join Major League Soccer (MLS) side Orlando City at the end of the season after spending 10 years across two spells with Atletico Madrid.
Griezmann delivered an emotional speech after Atletico Madrid defeated Girona 1-0 in La Liga, with the Frenchman providing the assist for Ademola Lookman’s winning goal in his final home game for the club.
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“Please forgive me. I was young, and I made a mistake in joining Barcelona,” Griezmann told supporters at the packed stadium.
“I did not understand the love I had here. I recognised my mistake and did everything to come back and enjoy it here.
“I didn’t win LaLiga or the UEFA Champions League, but your love is what matters.”
The former France international first joined Atletico Madrid from Real Sociedad in 2014 and developed into one of Europe’s leading forwards under manager Diego Simeone before leaving for Barcelona in 2019.
His spell at Camp Nou lasted two seasons before he returned to Atletico, where he rebuilt his relationship with the club’s supporters.
“I know many of you have (forgiven me), but some still haven’t, so I apologise again,” Griezmann said.
“I didn’t realise how much love I had here. I was very young, and well, I made a mistake.
“I reconsidered and we did everything to come back here and enjoy it again.”
Griezmann leaves Atletico Madrid as the club’s all-time leading scorer with 212 goals in 500 appearances.
He also paid tribute to his teammates, family, club staff and Simeone, whom he credited for transforming his career.
“I want to thank all my teammates from 2014 until today. It’s incredible to share everything with them. Every battle, every victory, and every defeat,” Griezmann said.
Simeone described Griezmann as one of the greatest players in Atletico Madrid’s history.
“You arrived playing on the wing, and we put you in the middle, and you became insatiable for goals,” said the Argentine coach.
“You have something that’s contagious for your team-mates, and it took you to the place you deserve.”
Former Atletico captain Fernando Torres also praised the forward during the farewell ceremony attended by several former players, including Diego Godin.
“Today is Antoine’s day; he’s surely the best any of us has seen here with our own eyes,” said Torres.
Griezmann won the Europa League with Atletico Madrid in 2018 before helping France lift the FIFA World Cup later that year in Russia.
Despite failing to win La Liga or the UEFA Champions League with Atletico, the forward’s connection with the club’s supporters remained at the centre of his farewell message as he prepares to continue his career in the United States.
