Ever since Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo made their respective moves to the MLS and the SPL, the stocks of both leagues have changed massively. While Leo’s move revitalized America’s soccer culture, CR7 paved the way for many European stars to play in Saudi. So far, Saudi has been leading the charge by being the desirable location for European stars thanks to top names and more money. However, in a rare instance, reports detail that an ex-World Cup winner has ditched Saudi’s allure for a chance to play in Inter Miami.
The player according to the source wants to join the MLS purely for his deep appreciation for the country and its culture. The source also revealed that Inter Miami is the first to respond to his interests as they have made him an offer to join them next season.
Antoine Griezmann set to join Lionel Messi at Inter Miami per reports
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32-year-old Antoine Griezmann is one of the most underrated soccer stars of our generation. He is a powerhouse on the field and with his insane engine, the ex-World Cup winner can stay in Europe for a long time. Hence when he announced his target to join MLS at the end of his career, it excited many American soccer fans.
The Frenchman won their hearts again when he revealed that he wanted to be at the MLS “to win things and be at my best level.” Since then, fans have been wondering which MLS club would be lucky to have Griezmann at their disposal. However, it looks like we finally have the answer.
As per journalist Ekrem Konur, Inter Miami has approached Griezmann for his signatures after he ditched Saudi clubs this summer. Inter Miami has offered the Frenchman a “2-year contract plus an optional year with an annual salary of $10.7 million.”
The roadblock however is his release clause set up by Atletico Madrid. The Colchoneros have set up a steep $26.78 million as his buyout clause which can be a hassle for David Beckham and his team per Konur. Another potential roadblock is Griezmann’s wish to be Atleti’s highest goalscorer in their history. As of now, the Frenchman is 15 goals away from Luis Aragones’s tally of 173 goals.
Inter Miami will move forward to sign French star player Antoine Griezmann.
🇫🇷🔵 #Atleti #InterMiamiCF“According to our information, the leaders of the American club are seriously considering recruiting Griezmann next summer.
They would be willing to offer him a 2-year… pic.twitter.com/Y39MNGqfiU
— MLS Moves (@MLSMoves) September 8, 2023
While no rumor can be proven reliable, this report has a solid base to be trusted thanks to Griezmann’s latest comments on the MLS. In a recent interview, the Atletico Madrid attacker praised Messi and Co’s move to Miami and appreciated MLS’s strategy of picking young talents.
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Griezmann impressed with MLS’s player-signing strategy to grow
Speaking at La Liga’s season induction press conference; Antoine Griezmann revealed that he has been keenly following Messi’s stint at the MLS so far. He then delved into Leo’s success and praised the Argentine for “filling stadiums” and “winning games”. Soon after, journalists quizzed him about his own prospect of joining the MLS since he has had a long-standing interest in the league.
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Speaking about his prospects, the Frenchman made his priorities clear and said he wants to make history with Atletico. “First I want to make history here and win trophies at Atleti. After that, we’ll see.” The ex-Barca player then stressed how Messi and his former teammates’ arrival is good for the league.
He also praised the league for snatching up young South American gems to improve their quality. “I think the arrival of Leo [Messi], ‘Busi’ [Sergio Busquets] and Jordi [Alba] is good for the league. That and signing younger players, especially from South America, it’s the best thing the league can do.”
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Do you see Antoine Griezmann joining Lionel Messi & Co at Inter Miami? Let us know your predictions below.