Antoine Griezmann raves about Lionel Messi and the MLS. In the future, the top Atletico Madrid attacker also wants to play in the U.S.
Lionel Messi’s move to Miami has only increased Antoine Griezmann’s soft spot for the USA and the sport across the pond. The 32-year-old Frenchman, arguably the standout player in La Liga last season, especially after the winter break, wants to play in Major League Soccer in the future.
“I’ve always said it,” the Atletico Madrid top man enthused in a digital media roundtable organised by La Liga and ESPN. “My goal is to end up there, enjoy American sport, play in MLS and have a good time. “
“Switching at the best level “
Griezmann also wants to “win things” in North America – and at his “best level”. As a 32-year-old, he will know that at some point the best level will be out of the question. Whereas superstar Messi, already at 36 years of age, has been putting in one gala performance after another since his move to Inter Miami, even in the late autumn of his career, and is scoring at will.
Griezmann looks to his former FC Barcelona team-mate in particular: “I follow him. Leo is the best in history, he fills the stadiums, scores a lot of goals and wins the games.” He added that MLS had made very good moves with the Messi transfer and the subsequent signings of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. “That – and signing younger players especially from South America – is the best thing the league can do,” Griezmann said.
First to win titles with Atletico
Acute worries that the Frenchman could still move this summer, however, Atleti fans do not have to worry. Because “Grizi” still has a lot of plans in the red and white striped kit. “I want to improve, score goals, be important, win the league and fight for the Champions League,” he said. “You have all these goals and for me personally it’s about improving on last year and scoring 16 or 17 goals which would make me the top scorer in the club’s history. That’s something that excites me.” Griezmann has scored 112 times for Atletico so far, while club legend Luis Aragones stands on 123 Atletico goals in La Liga.
Saudi Arabia would have to endorse the family
Would Saudi Arabia also be enthusiastic? Griezmann kept a low profile on this much-discussed topic. While the very high salary payments could “give security”, “if it happened to me, I would have to talk about it with my family and my children”. Messi did the same – and then decided on Miami.
