A sad end to Griezmann's career with Atletico!
Atletico Madrid's trophy drought continues as they were knocked out of the Champions League after a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the second leg of the semi-final. The Spanish side failed to impose their rhythm or mount a genuine comeback, despite the narrow margin of victory being sealed by Bukayo Saka's goal just before halftime . This European exit wasn't the only major event; it also marked the end of an important chapter in the club's history. It was Antoine Griezmann's final Champions League appearance for Atletico Madrid, as his expected summer move to Orlando City in the United States draws to a close, bringing his long and illustrious career at the club to a close . Throughout his career, Griezmann cemented his place as one of Atlético Madrid's all-time greats, making 497 appearances, scoring 212 goals and providing 99 assists, becoming the club's all-time leading scorer. He also ranks high on the list of players with the most European appearances, with 98 matches, behind only Koke and Jan Oblak, reflecting his significant impact and consistent performance over the years . Despite these impressive statistics, his time with the club remains lacking in major trophies, as he failed to win the Champions League, La Liga, or the Copa del Rey. His only major achievement with Atlético is the 2018 Europa League title. Ironically, the team won La Liga in 2021 while Griezmann was still playing for Barcelona, before he returned to his former club with high hopes of recapturing past glories . However, that return did not achieve the desired goals, as the absence of titles continued, extending the team’s drought to five consecutive seasons without a crown, which raises more than one question mark about the future of the team under the leadership of coach Diego Simeone, and raises wide possibilities regarding entering a rebuilding phase that may include significant changes in the team’s structure and management style, especially with the departure of one of its most prominent stars in recent years.
