Antoine Griezmann Berpisah dengan Atletico Madrid Setelah Tekuk Girona

Penyerang Antoine Griezmann menandai laga kandang terakhirnya bersama Atletico Madrid dengan mencetak assist ke-100 untuk klub saat mengalahkan Girona 1-0 dalam pertandingan La Liga di Stadion Metropolitano pada Minggu, 17 Mei 2026.

Pemain berusia 35 tahun tersebut memberikan umpan matang yang diselesaikan menjadi gol kemenangan oleh Ademola Lookman pada menit ke-21 dalam penampilannya yang ke-500 untuk Los Rojiblancos.

Griezmann dijadwalkan bakal segera meninggalkan klub asal ibu kota Spanyol tersebut untuk bergabung dengan tim Major League Soccer (MLS), Orlando City, dengan status bebas transfer setelah kontraknya habis.

Kiper Atletico Madrid Jan Oblak memberikan apresiasi tinggi terhadap kontribusi besar yang telah diberikan oleh penyerang asal Prancis tersebut selama berseragam Atletico.

"I am happy to have been able to enjoy these years with him. He should have won a Ballon d'Or. He still has many years left in the United States." ujar Jan Oblak, Penjaga Gawang Atletico Madrid.

Oblak juga mengungkapkan rasa bangga serta rasa terima kasihnya yang mendalam karena bisa menjadi rekan satu tim penyerang legendaris tersebut selama bertahun-tahun di Spanyol.

"I'm grateful and proud to have been able to spend so much time with him." kata Jan Oblak, Penjaga Gawang Atletico Madrid.

Penjaga gawang asal Slovenia itu memuji kualitas permainan magis yang dimiliki sang pemain dan berharap ia bisa terus menikmati karier sepak bolanya di kompetisi Amerika Serikat.

"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 mendoakan yang terbaik bagi kelanjutan karier masa depan Griezmann dan meyakini publik Amerika Serikat akan sangat terhibur melihat penampilannya di lapangan.

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

Sebelum pertandingan krusial menghadapi Girona tersebut dimulai, Oblak sempat memberikan pesan khusus kepada sang penyerang di ruang ganti.

"[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." cetus Jan Oblak, Penjaga Gawang Atletico Madrid.

Ketika ditanya mengenai masa depan kontraknya sendiri di Atletico Madrid yang baru akan berakhir pada Juni 2028, Oblak memilih untuk bersikap realistis.

"You never know what's going to happen in the future," tambah Jan Oblak, Penjaga Gawang Atletico Madrid.

Pemain berusia 33 tahun tersebut menegaskan bahwa bursa transfer musim panas selalu dinamis dan segala kemungkinan masih bisa terjadi.

"I have a contract, but the summer is always long." kata Jan Oblak, Penjaga Gawang Atletico Madrid.

Sementara itu, pelatih kepala Atletico Madrid Diego Simeone mengaku emosional dan sempat mempertanyakan masa depannya sendiri setelah momen perpisahan menyedihkan dengan Griezmann.

"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," tutur Diego Simeone, Pelatih Atletico Madrid.

Simeone juga memuji atmosfer luar biasa di Stadion Metropolitano serta langkah manajemen klub dalam menghargai jasa-jasa besar sang pemain.

"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," kata Diego Simeone, Pelatih Atletico Madrid.

Ketika ditanya mengenai hal yang paling ia rindukan dari sosok Griezmann, pelatih asal Argentina itu menyoroti kemampuan kepemimpinan sang penyerang saat tim menghadapi situasi sulit.

"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." papar Diego Simeone, Pelatih Atletico Madrid.

Simeone berharap klub dapat segera menemukan sosok pengganti sepadan yang memiliki kualitas kepemimpinan serupa untuk menjaga daya saing tim di masa depan.

"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 hubungan personalnya dengan sang pemain, Simeone menegaskan bahwa ikatan di antara mereka berdua sudah terasa seperti hubungan keluarga dekat.

"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…" ungkap Diego Simeone, Pelatih Atletico Madrid.

Simeone menjelaskan alasannya berbicara secara terbuka di depan publik mengenai karakteristik mendalam yang dimiliki oleh pemain bernomor punggung 7 tersebut.

"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.

Simeone juga menyatakan kekagumannya terhadap sikap para pendukung yang tetap bertahan di tribun stadion pascapertandingan untuk memberikan penghormatan terakhir secara khidmat.

"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." kata Diego Simeone, Pelatih Atletico Madrid.

Ia menilai rasa hormat tinggi yang ditunjukkan oleh para suporter membuktikan bahwa nilai-nilai kekeluargaan Atletico Madrid masih terjaga dengan sangat baik.

"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." kata Diego Simeone, Pelatih Atletico Madrid.

Saat jurnalis mencoba mengonfirmasi rumor seputar ketidakpastian masa depan Jan Oblak di klub, Simeone mengaku belum membicarakan hal tersebut.

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

Simeone kemudian menjabarkan warisan terbaik serta etos kerja luar biasa yang ditinggalkan oleh Griezmann bagi generasi pemain Atletico berikutnya.

"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 kepergian para pemain pilar yang telah berjasa besar bagi perkembangan klub.

"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." aku Diego Simeone, Pelatih Atletico Madrid.

Ia kini memilih fokus menatap masa depan dengan mempersiapkan komposisi skuad baru yang memiliki motivasi tinggi untuk terus bekerja keras.

"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." kata Diego Simeone, Pelatih Atletico Madrid.

Pada laga pamungkas La Liga pekan depan, Atletico Madrid dijadwalkan bertandang ke markas Villarreal untuk memperebutkan posisi ketiga klasemen.