Antoine Griezmann: Barcelona superstar reveals why he left Atletico Madrid for Nou Camp
The French forward left Atleti after five years with the club last summer in a £107m move to the Nou Camp
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Your support makes all the difference.Antoine Griezmann has opened up on the reasons behind his decision to leave Atletico Madrid and join Barcelona, while dismissing the lure of winning more trophies.
The French superstar joined the Blaugrana for £107 million last summer, angering his former club in the process in an acrimonious exit after five years at the club.
But despite a low-key start to life at the Nou Camp, with just eight goals in all competitions, Griezmann stands by the motivation for his transfer.
“I did not leave Atlético to win the Champions League or win more titles,” Griezmann told Uefa.
“I came here to Barça to learn a new style of play, a new philosophy and to grow on a personal level.
“Atlético can also win the La Liga and the Champions League, they have the team and the coach to do it.”
His lowest moment under Diego Simeone came in the 2016 Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid, with Griezmann still haunted by it due to his missed spot kick in regular time before eventually succumbing to their bitter rivals on penalties.
“I was very angry to have failed,” Griezmann added. “I think my failure was what made us lose the final.
“It will always hurt me, even if I win [the Champions League] with another club.
“It was my dream, the dream of the whole club and I had it in my feet. I can’t turn around, but I’m sure it will hurt me in ten or fifteen years.”
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