Round 29 of La Liga had a little something for everyone. He saw the biggest comeback in league play for 21 yearswhile the closest historical club to the abyss. “It was as it was” in the race for fifth place as Spain entered the extra Champions League spot, while at the top of the table, Barcelona beat Rayo by one goal to stay four points clear of Real Madrid – Los Blancos beat Atletico in one of the worst league games I’ve ever seen.
It didn’t take long Jose Luis Munuera Montero hit full time at 95:49 (although he added six minutes of stoppage time at the Bernabeu, you have to laugh) there. Marca Exclusively reported: Atletico star Antoine Griezmann was on his way to the United States, where he would sign a two-year contract with Orlando City SC.
That report has been confirmed by multiple outlets, and pending an official announcement from the club, Griezmann – who turned 35 on Saturday – will leave Atletico in June after the end of the European season.
Griezmann’s departure in June to Major League Soccer, where he had long insisted he wanted to play, will bring the curtain down on an illustrious career in Spanish football that has been underappreciated and overlooked. The Frenchman’s 556 appearances in La Liga ranks fourth all-time; his 204 goals ranked 11th in the tournament’s history, and his 98 assists ranked seventh. By any metric, he is a league legend.
But with his stints at Atletico, Real Sociedad and occasionally at Barcelona, takes care of he has one Copa del Rey on his domestic silverware to prove he is one of the greatest players of his generation. That could all change on April 18when Griezmann and Atleti meet Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final on the eve of Feria week in Seville. And although Atleti are not used to winning the Champions League, their quarterfinal match against Barca promises to be filled with goals. Griezmann helping his beloved Rojiblancos to the first semi-final in nine years cannot be ruled out.
What Griezmann and Atletico say to each other cannot be summed up in one or two sentences, or even a paragraph or four. I’ll try anyway.
💣🚨 MAJOR BREAKING: Antoine Griezmann is traveling to Orlando in the coming hours to finalize his move to Orlando City for next season.
He has received Atlético Madrid's permission. Griezmann's time at the club will come to an end at the end of this season.@medinamarca pic.twitter.com/G76ncZzBtm
— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) March 23, 2026
At Atleti, Griezmann helped bring the club into the modern era; his brilliance and popularity brought a lot of new fans to the club, when they moved to the glittering Metropolitano from the beloved but aging Vicente Calderon. Used to living in the shadow of Real Madrid, its Bernabeu stadium, 15 Champions Leagues (as Los Blancos fans will remind you) in the prestigious Chamartin district, Atleti have carved out a middle ground for themselves in San Blas-Canillejas since moving there in 2017. Simeone – even during Griezmann’s time playing under him.
For Griezmann, Atleti was his start to international recognition and stardom. He finished twice on the Ballon d’Or podium, in 2016 and 2018, in the red and white stripes; Atleti reached the European finals in both seasons, losing out in the Champions League in 2016 but beating Marseille to win the Europa League two years later. Griezmann then won the World Cup with France and publicly rejected Barcelona – although talks about him continuing in secret until the following year.
That revelation turned Atletico fans against Griezmann, who did not get the trophies he wanted when he moved to Barcelona for €120m in 2019. He was blocked on the wing where he attacked Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, Griezmann was whistled aggressively when Barcelona moved to Metropoli after 102 appearances and 35 goals in Catalonia, in August 2021 he made the deadline to return Simeone’s loan day with Atleti.
The club and head coach gave him a warm welcome, but it was another year before Griezmann won back the fans. Some still haven’t forgiven him for leaving in the first place, and never will – even though he has become the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, having hit 211 in all competitions.
Griezmann’s 2025/26 version has become one of my favorites to watch. No longer a 25-30 goal a year forward, Griezmann has made another career change as a floating number 8 using his intelligence, technique and unrelenting class to make key changes and create shots. After a spell as a substitute in the opening months of the season, Griezmann has returned to Simeone’s starting XI and has rediscovered his goalscoring touch; his five goals in the Copa del Rey are the team’s most, and Atleti do not reach that final next month without him.
Griezmann is not a player that Atleti can replace. I know this because the club has tried to do it before. Joao Felix is one of the biggest flops in the club’s history. Alex Baena is also not yet on loan, although injury has prevented him from playing regularly until January.
No, Griezmann cannot be measured: a striker whose brains and work rate are matched by his attacking talent and natural ability. Simeone has been describing Griezmann in glowing terms as that rare player who bought into his outdated ideas when he emerged as the club’s striker. It made him an idol.
Neither Atleti nor LaLiga will see the likes of him anytime soon, if at all.
