Antoine Griezmann returned to Atlético in 2021 with the aim of regaining his place at the club. After two seasons with Barcelona, the Frenchman returned to his homeland to close the circle and once again became the great leader of Los Colchoneros. There are too many similarities with the story of Tommy Shelby in the movie Peaky Blinders, which Atlético have been promoting recently. The protagonist returns to Birmingham in the midst of World War II, confronting the ghosts of his past and once again leading his family’s gang.
Antoine is enjoying his best period in recent years and is hoping to lift a trophy in his second season at Atlético. The Frenchman, who broke all goalscoring records and became Atlético’s all-time top scorer, is missing out on another trophy to add to his record as an Atlético player. The titles he won in his first period under Simeone are not enough for one of Atlético’s greatest legends. Winning the Copa del Rey and continuing to fight for the coveted Champions League are the goals of the number seven.
Kylian Mbappe reacts in the stands after Federico Valverde scores a hat-trick against Manchester City
The beginning of the season saw Griezmann leave his supporting role. However, the French player has gradually gained a more prominent role. Antoine made no noise, often coming off the bench, regaining his form and becoming an undisputed piece in the most important moments of the season. Griezmann has started 16 of the 40 games (15th on the team) and has already scored 13 goals and provided five assists, but above all he has played a leading role in some of Atletico’s biggest games so far this season. Although he came on as a substitute in the first derby of the season against Real Madrid, he started in the Copa del Rey matches against Betis and Barcelona, and played a decisive role in the Champions League match against Tottenham.
Griezmann’s performance will be essential in determining the chances of success in the Reds and Whites season. The Frenchman, the Copa del Rey’s top scorer, has the final in La Cartuja marked in red on his calendar. For now, he may start on the bench against Getafe, but he will have another chance to shine at the Metropolitano. It is against rivals Azlons that he has scored 12 goals, 10 of which came during his time with the Rojiblancos and two with Barcelona. The return of the immortal man to his homeland may mark the end of this season, coinciding with his film as a Rojiblanco. Now 35, Antoine wants to end his career by regaining his winger status.
