Antoine Griezmann blasts Atletico Madrid over Barcelona transfer as he reveals one regret - 7M sport

Antoine Griezmann blasts Atletico Madrid over Barcelona transfer as he reveals one regret

ANTOINE GRIEZMANN has criticised his former club Atletico Madrid for forcing him to make a video stating his desire to leave, two months before he joined Barcelona for £107million.


Posted Monday, July 22, 2019 by Express.co.uk

Griezmann said goodbye to Atleti fans in May via video message after informing Wanda Metropolitano chiefs he wanted to leave.

The Frenchman was accused of self-indulgence in the summer of 2018 when he announced his decision to stay at Atleti despite interest from Barcelona through a documentary called ‘The Decision'.

Rojiblancos chiefs ensured the same would not happen by making Griezmann confirm his desire to depart via video message but it was not the way the forward wanted to exit.

Speaking to Spanish newspaper Marca, Griezmann broke down the stages of his departure.

"We spoke in his (CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin's) own home with Andrea [Berta] and El Cholo (Diego Simeone)," he said.

"The most important thing for me is that I tried to leave on the best possible terms, in the way that the club said to.

"I'd have liked to have done it in the way that Juanfran and Diego [Godin] did (press conferences), but they asked me to do it with a video.

"I said my goodbyes to the players, the staff, the physios and everyone, that was the most important thing."

Antoine Griezmann blasts Atletico Madrid over Barcelona transfer as he reveals one regret
Barcelona news: Antoine Griezmann criticises Atletico Madrid over nature of exit

The 28-year-old regrets not leaving the manner he wanted to, with the split eventually turning into an acrimonious affair between both clubs.

"The worst thing was that video, but I couldn't do anything else," he said.

Griezmann is scheduled to return to Atleti with his Barcelona team-mates in early December and is already readying himself for the test.

Asked whether going back to Wanda Metropolitano worries him, he replied: "No. I know that there will be whistles.

"It's part of football: they really loved me and when someone leaves, it can hurt.

"It was like that at Real Sociedad: my first visit back wasn't easy.

"But I will always have La Real and Atleti in my heart because they gave me so much."



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