The impossible decision of Atlético de Madrid with the future of Antoine Griezmann

The details about Antoine Griezmann’s doable departure for the MLS now not feels like easy market hypothesis. The curiosity of Orlando Metropolis SC has activated an inner debate at Atlético de Madrid that goes far past what was identified thus far. Though the Frenchman has a robust bond and institutional weight throughout the membership, his need to play in the US is a part of a private plan identified for years.

The issue isn’t just whether or not he leaves or not. The issue is when. If the choice is carried out in June, Atlético enters instantly right into a essential situation, as it could imply dropping its most influential footballer with no actual room for structural reconstruction. Griezmann isn’t just targets and assists, since regardless of his age, he’s nonetheless management, tactical studying and connection between the strains. His departure wouldn’t be simply any casualty, quite it could be a compelled change of offensive mannequin within the rojiblanco scheme.

The market doesn’t supply actual options

Discovering a direct alternative is just unimaginable. There isn’t a profile in the marketplace that mixes tactical intelligence, defensive sacrifice, offensive manufacturing and aggressive hierarchy for an inexpensive value. Inside choices don’t cowl this hole and exterior choices require disproportionate investments or high-risk bets. Moreover, any signing would wish adaptation to a really particular tactical context like that of Diego Pablo Simeone, one thing that can not be achieved in months and never with any participant.

Atlético would lose what is correct now considered one of its offensive axes. Changing Griezmann is just not signing one other attacker, it’s redesigning the construction of the group. It adjustments the best way of attacking, urgent, progressing inside and competing in shut matches. And that can not be solved with a reputation of your personal, irrespective of how costly it could be. It’s solved with a course of, time and margin of error. Nonetheless, it’s one thing that doesn’t exist in a membership compelled to compete each season for every part.

An exit that may mark an period

That’s the reason the choice is so advanced. If Griezmann stays, Atlético positive factors instant sporting stability, whereas if he leaves in June, the membership enters a compelled transition, with out a security web and with a hostile market. Past the sentimental dilemma, there’s additionally a fantastic structural unknown, since dropping a participant like Griezmann with out a real looking substitute compromises the mission within the brief and medium time period.

The secret is not in Orlando, nor within the MLS, nor even within the participant’s private need. The secret is within the sporting actuality, which is mainly that there isn’t any doable alternative in June. That turns any negotiation right into a high-risk strategic determination, as a result of if Griezmann leaves, Atlético not solely loses its star, it additionally loses the guts of the system. Rebuilding that, in the course of summer time and with most demand for outcomes, is just not tough, it’s instantly an unimaginable mission.