Antoine Griezmann returned to Atletico in 2021 with the aim of regaining his place at the club. After two seasons at Barcelona, the Frenchman made the journey back to his home to close the circle and become once again the great leader of Los Colchoneros. There are too many similarities with the story of Tommy Shelby in the Peaky Blinders movie that Atletico is promoting these days. The protagonist returns to Birmingham in the midst of World War II to deal with his old ghosts and lead the family gang once again.
Antoine, who is going through one of his best spells in recent years, wants to close the circle by lifting a trophy in his second spell with Atletico. Having broken all the goalscoring records and become Atletico’s all-time top scorer, the Frenchman is missing more trophies as an Atletico player in his record. The titles he won in his first spell under Simeone are not enough for one of Atletico’s greatest legends. Lifting the Copa del Rey and continuing to fight for the coveted Champions League are the No.7’s objectives.
The beginning of the season left Griezmann‘s role as a more secondary actor. But the Frenchman has gradually earned a much more prominent role. Without making any noise, often coming off the bench, Antoine has been regaining his stripes until he has become an undisputed piece at the most important moment of the season. With 16 starts (he is 15th in the squad) in 40 games, Griezmann has already scored 13 goals and five assists but above all a leading role in several of Atletico’s big games so far this season. He was a substitute against Real Madrid in the first derby of the season, but he has been a starter in the Copa del Rey ties against Betis and Barcelona, and was decisive in the Champions League clash against Tottenham.
Griezmann’s figure seems essential to define the possible success of the red and white season. The top scorer in the Copa del Rey, the final at La Cartuja is marked in red on the Frenchman’s calendar. For the moment, against Getafe, although he could start from the bench, he will have another opportunity to shine at the Metropolitano. A rival, the Azulones, against whom he has scored 12 goals, ten as a Rojiblanco and two in his time as a Barcelona player. The return home of the immortal man could have this season an end to match his film as a Rojiblanco. At 35 years of age, Antoine wants to close his career by regaining his place on the wing
Read the full article here
