Atlético Madrid are preparing a farewell tribute to the French star, who will play in front of Rojiblanco fans for the very last time on Sunday.
Sunday’s match at the Metropolitano will be much more than just another football match. It will belong to Antoine Griezmann. It will be a farewell to the loyal Atlético Madrid supporters. The Frenchman’s last dance at the stadium that has been his home for so many years, and where he built a legacy that made him the club’s all-time top scorer.
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It will be an evening many hoped would never come. But time moves on inexorably. At 35, “The Little Prince” has decided to close his chapter with Atlético and continue his career in the United States, in MLS – a move he has long dreamed of in a series that does not require much.
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Griezmann will be the protagonist of a day that begins with Atlético’s match against Girona at 19:00 and ends with a tribute from both the club and the supporters to one of the most important players in Rojiblanco’s modern history. Atlético have chosen to keep the details of the ceremony private, although the French star is expected to be surrounded by family and close friends. There will be surprises, a lot of emotion and an unforgettable atmosphere for a player who has never hidden his love for Atlético Madrid – a feeling he shares with his wife Erika and their children.
A giant commemorative costume from the stands
One tribute has already been confirmed: Griezmann will receive a giant commemorative jersey from the stands – an honour previously given to club legends such as Diego Godín, Ángel Correa and Juanfran Torres during their recent appearances in the Atlético shirts at the stadium on Avenida de Luis Aragonés.
The match against Girona will also, fittingly, mark Griezmann’s 500th game for Atlético. Between Vicente Calderón and the Metropolitano, he has scored 212 goals and provided 94 assists. Unless something unexpected happens, he will start and lead Atlético’s attack as Diego Simeone’s side continue their fight to secure third place in La Liga – a goal that is now in their own hands after Villarreal’s loss to Sevilla at La Cerámica.
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“May that Sunday never end,” Álex Baena wrote on social media in response to Atlético’s announcement of Griezmann’s final dance at the Metropolitano. The Frenchman has played a key role in helping the midfielder settle into the dressing room, supporting him through difficult moments this season and being a role model both on and off the pitch.
Not the dream farewell he wanted
This may not be the dream farewell Griezmann had imagined. He wanted to say goodbye with another trophy in his hands. Atlético came agonisingly close in Sevilla during the final of the Copa del Rey, but the penalty shootout denied them again. They also did not reach the final of the Champions League.
He won’t be celebrating at the Neptune Fountain, but he’ll go home with something just as meaningful: the admiration and appreciation of his fans, teammates, coaching staff and the entire club – a club he leaves with an unforgettable legacy.
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