Simeone breaks the silence on Griezmann’s replacement at Atlético: “Dear Mommy”

There have been tears within the Metropolitano for Antoine Griezmann’s farewell, and Simeone’s phrases have been as much as par. Cholo appeared on DAZN after the tribute to Griezmann with the emotion of somebody who is aware of that he has simply stated goodbye to one of the vital necessary gamers of his profession as a coach. The query about who may very well be the Frenchman’s alternative provoked a honest response: “Expensive mother. What a participant. How is there going to be one other one?” he confessed.

Some phrases that say greater than any evaluation. Simeone didn’t search comfort or take a look at the market. He merely acknowledged what everybody at Atlético de Madrid is aware of however few dare to say so clearly, and that’s that there’ll nearly definitely be no different Griezmann in Atlético de Madrid’s future.

Simeone acknowledges Griezmann’s legacy

Pablo Pinto reviewed with Cholo the twelve years of his relationship with the Frenchman with the angle of somebody who has seen a participant develop from inside: “I informed Juanfran earlier than the sport, to Koke, that he has been right here. When he entered via the locker room door in 2014, nobody imagined this.”

Simeone responded: “When he arrived he was an excessive winger, quick, however I noticed him with lots of expertise, with lots of breaking. We began working with him in order that he may play as a second striker. It was troublesome for him at first to interpret, to work on what we wanted, to work backwards. And he had the expertise. I noticed issues in him that within the final stretch of the sector he may very well be completely differential, insatiable of objectives, as a result of he at all times wished to attain objectives,” he commented.

500 video games of the Little Prince

Simeone didn’t cover the historic dimension of what these 500 video games shared between coach and participant symbolize: “500 video games collectively, the reality is loopy. Lots of time.” And he closed his evaluation with probably the most emotional phrases of the evening, rescuing what Fernando Torres had stated within the tribute concerning the individual behind the footballer: “As Fernando stated within the clarification he gave, the best factor he has as a participant and as an individual, the individual he’s, everybody loves him,” he concluded.

Thanks, Antoine ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/rmlTroBUFf

— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) Could 17, 2026

Cholo and Griezmann stated goodbye tonight on the Metropolitano after twelve years of a relationship that goes far past soccer. The coach who noticed in that younger and quick winger one thing that nobody else noticed, and the participant who trusted in that course of till he grew to become the highest scorer within the membership’s historical past. The seek for his alternative has already begun, however Simeone’s phrases make it clear that what’s leaving is unrepeatable.