Antoine Griezmann, the French prodigy and star of Atlético de Madrid, has finally realized a long-held dream: his transfer to Major League Soccer (MLS). The 2018 World Cup champion has signed a contract with Orlando City, where he will become the team’s new Designated Player until 2028. The move is set for July, and the player could make his debut on July 22 against the San Jose Earthquakes.
At 35 years old, Griezmann is not only preparing for a new adventure in the United States but is also wrapping up his 17th season in La Liga. This move is not a total surprise, as the player has expressed a desire to finish his career in the MLS since 2018. In 2020, he stated: “I don’t know with which team, but I really want to play there. For me, it’s a goal to end my career in the United States, with the possibility of playing well and being an important part of the team, fighting for a title.”
What motivated Griezmann to take this step? The answer can be found in two MLS icons: Carlos Vela and David Beckham, whose careers and legacies have profoundly influenced his decision.
Carlos Vela, the star of LAFC, was the driving force behind Griezmann’s interest in MLS. Since his former Real Sociedad teammate joined LAFC in 2018, the Frenchman has started to regularly follow the league’s matches. In August of this year, Griezmann even joked about a potential reunion with Vela in MLS: “Carlos… wait for me in Los Angeles, in MLS,” he said in an interview with Univision. Vela has not only excelled in the league, setting impressive records, but he has also become a club legend, winning the MVP title in 2019 and leading the team to several victories.
“It’s a bit of what I want to do,” Griezmann stated. “He has been very important for the league and for his team. Vela has achieved everything and is someone I admire a lot for having played in Los Angeles. I want to get as close as possible to what he has accomplished.”
On the other hand, Griezmann’s admiration for David Beckham goes back many years. The legendary English player launched Inter Miami in September 2018, and from that moment on, Griezmann began to dream of MLS. “If [David Beckham] wants me at his club, then I will go,” Griezmann told L’Équipe shortly after the announcement. “I want to finish my career in the U.S. I don’t know if it will be in Miami or LA. They are two great cities. I like the mentality and the entertainment culture in the United States.”
Although Griezmann is on his way to Orlando, his idolization of Beckham remains intact. “He is my childhood hero and that’s why I wear the number 7,” the Frenchman revealed, referring to the famous number Beckham wore at Manchester United. Thus, Griezmann will continue to wear the number 7 with Orlando as a tribute to his idol, while he pursues the same level of success that Beckham achieved in MLS.
With Griezmann’s arrival at Orlando City, MLS fans can expect a spectacle worthy of a player who has already made an indelible mark on European football and is now preparing to win the hearts of American supporters.
This article first appeared in Apito Final.
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