Antoine Griezmann Berpisah dengan Atletico Madrid Setelah Laga Kontra Girona

Penyerang Atletico Madrid Antoine Griezmann mengucapkan perpisahan emosional kepada para penggemar di Stadion Metropolitano pada hari Minggu, 17 Mei 2026, setelah melakoni laga kandang terakhirnya dalam kemenangan 1-0 atas Girona.

Pemain asal Prancis berusia 35 tahun tersebut dijadwalkan bergabung dengan klub MLS, Orlando City, dengan status bebas transfer setelah kontraknya habis pada musim panas ini.

Dalam pertandingan ke-500 bersama Atletico Madrid tersebut, Griezmann memberikan umpan matang yang dikonversi menjadi gol kemenangan oleh Ademola Lookman pada menit ke-21, sekaligus menandai asis ke-100 miliknya untuk klub.

Selepas peluit panjang berbunyi, manajemen klub menggelar upacara penghormatan di atas lapangan yang dihadiri oleh rekan setim, pelatih Diego Simeone, serta para legenda klub seperti Fernando Torres dan Diego Godin.

Griezmann merupakan pencetak gol terbanyak sepanjang masa Atletico Madrid dengan torehan 212 gol dan berada di urutan keempat dalam daftar pemain dengan penampilan terbanyak untuk klub tersebut.

Selama dua periode membela Los Rojiblancos sejak pindah dari Real Sociedad pada 2014, ia telah memenangkan trofi Liga Europa, Piala Super UEFA, dan Piala Super Spanyol, meski belum pernah merengkuh gelar La Liga atau Liga Champions.

Di hadapan para pendukung yang bertahan di stadion setelah pertandingan, penyerang internasional Prancis tersebut menyampaikan pidato perpisahan dan kembali meminta maaf atas kepindahannya ke Barcelona pada tahun 2019 sebelum akhirnya kembali dua tahun kemudian.

"Thank you all for staying behind. This is amazing," ujar Antoine Griezmann, penyerang Atletico Madrid.

Griezmann mengakui kesalahannya di masa lalu yang sempat meninggalkan klub dalam usia muda karena belum menyadari besarnya cinta dari para suporter di Madrid.

"This is important. I know many of you have already, and some still haven't, but I apologize again [for joining Barça]. I didn't realize how much love I had here. I was very young, and I made a mistake. I came back to my senses, and we did everything we could to enjoy life here again," kata Antoine Griezmann, penyerang Atletico Madrid.

Ia juga memberikan pujian khusus kepada pelatih Diego Simeone yang dinilainya telah berjasa besar dalam perkembangan kariernya hingga mampu meraih gelar juara Piala Dunia bersama tim nasional Prancis.

"Thanks to you [Simeone] there's so much excitement in this stadium," ucap Antoine Griezmann, penyerang Atletico Madrid.

Griezmann menegaskan bahwa kasih sayang yang ia terima dari seluruh elemen klub jauh lebih berharga daripada kegagalannya mempersembahkan trofi domestik tertinggi atau kompetisi elite Eropa.

"Thanks to you I became a world champion and I felt like the best in the world. I owe you so much, and it's been an honour to fight for you," tutur Antoine Griezmann, penyerang Atletico Madrid.

Ia memastikan akan selalu mengingat momen kebersamaan dan cinta dari para suporter Atletico Madrid di sepanjang sisa hidupnya.

"I haven't been able to bring home a LaLiga title or a Champions League trophy, but this love is worth more," cetus Antoine Griezmann, penyerang Atletico Madrid.

Griezmann menambahkan pernyataan penutup dalam pidatonya di lapangan.

"I'll carry it with me for the rest of my life," pungkas Antoine Griezmann, penyerang Atletico Madrid.

Apresiasi terhadap performa Griezmann juga datang dari penjaga gawang Jan Oblak yang menilai sang penyerang layak mendapatkan penghargaan individu tertinggi sepak bola dunia berkat penampilannya yang spektakuler.

"He should have won a Ballon d'Or," cetus Jan Oblak, penjaga gawang Atletico Madrid.

Oblak meyakini Griezmann masih memiliki karier yang panjang dan akan memberikan dampak besar saat bermain di kompetisi Amerika Serikat.

"He still has a lot of years left in the United States, where they'll enjoy him," tambah Jan Oblak, penjaga gawang Atletico Madrid.

Dalam wawancara terpisah bersama media, Oblak kembali menegaskan rasa bangganya sempat bermain bersama penyerang legendaris tersebut.

"I'm grateful and proud to have been able to spend so much time with him," ungkap Jan Oblak, penjaga gawang Atletico Madrid.

Ia memuji keajaiban yang dihadirkan Griezmann di lapangan dan mendoakan kesuksesan karier barunya di MLS.

"To enjoy his football and his magic. He's spectacular and should have won a Ballon d'Or," kata Jan Oblak, penjaga gawang Atletico Madrid.

Oblak pun mengaku bahagia melihat perjalanan karier sang rekan setim sejauh ini.

"I'm happy with his career. He still has years left in the USA, where they'll enjoy watching him play," ujar Jan Oblak, penjaga gawang Atletico Madrid.

Sebelum pertandingan dimulai, Oblak sempat memberikan pesan khusus agar Griezmann menikmati setiap momen laga kandang pamungkasnya.

"[Before the game, I told him] to enjoy the game, to experience it as if it were his last, which it was at home with this shirt," tutur Jan Oblak, penjaga gawang Atletico Madrid.

Ketika ditanya mengenai masa depannya sendiri di klub mengingat kontraknya baru akan habis pada Juni 2028, Oblak belum bisa memberikan kepastian mengenai bursa transfer mendatang.

"You never know what's going to happen in the future," kata Jan Oblak, penjaga gawang Atletico Madrid.

Penjaga gawang asal Slovenia tersebut memilih bersikap fleksibel menghadapi situasi musim panas.

"I have a contract, but the summer is always long," ucap Jan Oblak, penjaga gawang Atletico Madrid.

Sementara itu, pelatih Atletico Madrid Diego Simeone merefleksikan arti kesetiaan dan dedikasi setelah melihat penghormatan luar biasa dari para suporter di tribun Stadion Metropolitano.

"It’s been 15 years now, and we’re getting older too, so the feelings are… I sometimes wonder if it’s worth continuing, and I find that it is, because there are so many people who want the goal we’re pursuing, so many people whose lives have been changed and who are filled with hope to see Atleti, the Atleti that competes," kata Diego Simeone, pelatih Atletico Madrid.

Simeone mengapresiasi cara klub dan para suporter memperlakukan pemain legendaris yang akan segera hengkang tersebut dengan penuh rasa hormat.

"I see a stadium that respects a legend like Griezmann, there’s a club that takes care of the player, that seeks to give him a farewell befitting his work, and so much more," puji Diego Simeone, pelatih Atletico Madrid.

Ketika ditanya mengenai hal yang paling ia rindukan dari sosok Griezmann, Simeone menyebut kemampuan memimpin tim di saat-saat sulit sebagai kualitas yang jarang ditemukan pada pemain modern.

"Hmm… So many things… He has something that sets him apart from the rest: he takes charge of the team. It’s not easy to find that, a player who, when things get tough, steps up and leads the team. There are few players like that, and we’ll work hard to find one. Obviously, teams need players like that, like Koke. I remember he started the first three games on the bench; he came in against Villarreal (in September), quietly, working hard. He carries a weight that can’t be explained in words. He carries that weight, and coaches know what that means," beber Diego Simeone, pelatih Atletico Madrid.

Simeone berharap klub dapat menemukan figur baru yang bisa menggantikan kualitas permainan yang ditinggalkan oleh penyerangnya itu.

"Hopefully, we can find that quality Antoine leaves behind and have what it takes to compete the way we always have," harap Diego Simeone, pelatih Atletico Madrid.

Mengenai relasi personalnya dengan Griezmann, pelatih asal Argentina ini menjelaskan bahwa meskipun tidak menjalin pertemanan biasa di luar sepak bola, hubungan emosional di antara keduanya terjalin sangat kuat seperti keluarga.

"Relationships with players are hard to explain. ‘Are you friends with Antoine?’ you ask me. No, I’m not friends with him, but I care deeply for him. I love him. We have a great, family-like relationship, but I don't go out to dinner with him every week, nor do I call him on the phone if I have a problem. But something develops that I can’t explain. It’s something we coaches call a soft spot. Antoine was a soft spot of mine. Last year, when he couldn’t deliver as we wanted, I kept pushing him because I trusted him. I don’t think I’ve ever been wrong about him. With other things, yes…," urai Diego Simeone, pelatih Atletico Madrid.

Simeone mengungkapkan alasan dirinya bisa berbicara sangat terbuka dalam acara pelepasan Griezmann di hadapan ribuan pasang mata penonton.

"Antoine is a man of few words, but what he conveys is profound, above all. He’s always conveyed that. I know the affection he has for me and that we have for him and his family," jelas Diego Simeone, pelatih Atletico Madrid.

Ia menambahkan bahwa rasa hormat yang ditunjukkan para suporter yang rela duduk tenang mendengarkan pidato perpisahan adalah hal terindah dalam lingkungan sepak bola modern saat ini.

"What did I like about today? Sometimes it’s hard to explain, because we all live for the material things; winning a Cup matters to us. We didn’t win it this year, but we gave everything we had. I can guarantee you that we gave it our all. Seeing the fans’ affection, having them sit quietly for 25 or 30 minutes, listening with respect," tutur Diego Simeone, pelatih Atletico Madrid.

Nilai kekeluargaan di dalam tubuh Los Rojiblancos terlihat nyata melalui sikap yang ditunjukkan oleh penonton di tribun serta para kapten tim.

"Respect is the greatest thing in the world, and it’s been lost in this society, that famous respect for others. Our fans showed that, when they talk about the Atlético family, it was present in the stands, in the players, in the captains who came. Then Antoine expressed his affection and what Atlético means to him as best he could," sambung Diego Simeone, pelatih Atletico Madrid.

Terkait pernyataan Jan Oblak yang membiarkan masa depannya terbuka, Simeone menegaskan dirinya belum mendiskusikan hal tersebut secara langsung dengan sang kiper.

"I haven’t spoken with Oblak about the matter. When I do, I’ll let you know," tegas Diego Simeone, pelatih Atletico Madrid.

Simeone menilai warisan terbesar Griezmann bagi klub bukan sekadar statistik gol, melainkan sikap rendah hati, kerja keras, dan kepatuhan profesional yang luar biasa sebagai seorang pemain dunia.

"It’s not our place to judge other players, each has their own qualities. Antoine has his: respect, humility, hard work… He never crossed that coach-player line that our relationship might have allowed, but he didn’t do it. I took him out of games, and he never showed any reaction beyond the normal frustration a player like him might feel. We had a genius. I don’t know if many players have the technical ability and the goals he’s scored. It won’t be easy," puji Diego Simeone, pelatih Atletico Madrid.

Simeone mengakui adanya perasaan sedih mendalam ketika harus melepas para pemain pilar yang telah menjadi bagian penting dalam proses panjang klub selama ini.

"Sadness, first of all. There are uncomfortable conversations, but they have to be had; I have to make decisions. I always thought I’d leave the way I arrived, believing that whatever I decide will be best for Atlético. That’s the situation I’m in. That’s why we talk to Griezmann, to Savić, to Godín, to all the guys who are leaving us, who were so important in this process," pungkas Diego Simeone, pelatih Atletico Madrid.

Simeone menutup keterangannya dengan menyatakan fokusnya saat ini adalah membangun gairah baru bersama para pemain yang bertahan serta pemain baru yang akan didatangkan pada jendela transfer.

"What excites me are the players. The ones who might come, the ones who stay, the ones who represent me, the ones in whom I see the drive to do the work needed to be where we are," pungkas Diego Simeone, pelatih Atletico Madrid.

Pada laga pamungkas La Liga akhir pekan depan, Atletico Madrid dijadwalkan bertandang ke markas Villarreal untuk memperebutkan posisi ketiga klasemen akhir, sementara Girona harus berjuang keluar dari zona degradasi saat menjamu Elche.