Griezmann reveals Champions League ambition as Atletico Madrid ‘last dance’ begins ahead of Orlando City switch

Madrid—Antoine Griezmann has confirmed that his decade-long spell at Atletico Madrid will conclude this summer, but the 33-year-old forward insists the farewell tour will be measured in trophies, not sentiment. Speaking publicly for the first time since Orlando City announced his pre-contract agreement on Tuesday, Griezmann pledged to “give my life” to the Colchoneros through the final whistle of the 2025-26 campaign before relocating to Florida ahead of the 2027 MLS season.

“Let’s leave the future in the future—because I am not leaving yet,” Griezmann wrote in an Instagram post that quickly surpassed two million likes. “I still have months left in this shirt…to lift that Copa del Rey, and to dream of going as far as possible in the Champions League.”

The message ended weeks of speculation that Atletico might cash in during the January window; instead, the club and player elected to honor their original handshake, allowing Griezmann to chase the European crown that has eluded him since his 2014 arrival in Madrid. His lone final appearance, the 2016 shoot-out loss to Real Madrid in Milan, remains a scar tissue moment: Griezmann hit the crossbar from the spot in regular time before Los Blancos prevailed on penalties.

Atletico’s path to redemption begins next month against familiar foes. Having survived a seven-goal thriller with Tottenham Hotspur in the round of 16, Diego Simeone’s side will meet Barcelona in a quarter-final blockbuster, traveling to Camp Nou on 8 April before hosting the return leg at the renamed Riyadh Air Metropolitano six days later. A hypothetical semi-final would pit the winners against either Arsenal or Sporting CP, while the opposite bracket features heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Griezmann, who has started every knockout match thus far, leads the squad in chances created and ranks second in total minutes among outfield players. Club officials privately acknowledge that his leadership inside the dressing room has been equally vital during a congested run that still includes the Copa del Rey final, where Atletico remain on course for a domestic double.

Orlando City, meanwhile, have agreed to wait. The Lions finalized terms last week during a swift visit by the player to Central Florida, structuring a deal through the 2027-28 season with an option for 2028-29. The transfer will become official on 1 July 2026, making Griezmann the 20th World Cup winner to appear in MLS and setting up a tantalizing future rivalry with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.

For now, however, the striker’s compass points exclusively toward Europe. “My present remains Red and White until the very last breath of this 2026 season,” he wrote. “And my heart will be forever. Aúpa Atleti.”

Atletico supporters will hope that heartbeat echoes deep into June, ideally on a stage no Madrid fan has ever witnessed their club ascend: Champions League final night, trophy in hand, and Griezmann front and center for one last dance.