Diego Simeone, head coach of Atlético de Madrid, delivered heartfelt words for Antoine Griezmann, who will say goodbye to the Atletico fans this Sunday, May 17, at the Metropolitano against Girona FC. The Argentine manager stated that the French star will leave an unforgettable legacy both for his footballing brilliance and his human qualities, especially highlighting the humility he showed when returning to Atletico after his spell at FC Barcelona.

“There will never be another player like Griezmann,” Simeone said. “We had a genius at Atletico for many years.”

The “Cholo” reflected on different moments shared with the French forward, from his development as a young talent to becoming a World Cup winner and Atletico Madrid’s all-time leading scorer.

“He arrived young, grew in an extraordinary way, worked incredibly hard, and reached the greatest achievement possible: winning a World Cup,” Simeone explained. “He has the respect of every teammate, and that is something truly enviable.”

The coach also recalled Griezmann’s difficult departure to Barcelona and how both experienced that moment.

“I remember when he came to tell me before leaving for Barcelona. It was painful, but necessary to understand what happened afterward,” he admitted. “When he returned, it was a moment of happiness because we knew a genius was coming back.”

Simeone acknowledged that replacing a player with Griezmann’s influence and responsibility inside the dressing room will be extremely difficult.

“The responsibility of carrying the team rested on him and Koke. It’s very difficult to explain the weight he had within the squad,” he said. “We will work to find players capable of taking on that same responsibility.”

Beyond football, Simeone wanted to emphasize the personal and family bond he built with the French striker throughout the years.

“I will remember him as a great person: noble, human, and responsible. He was always willing to do whatever Atletico needed,” Simeone noted. “He had the humility to return and start over in order to win back the fans who were upset with him precisely because they loved him so much.”

Simeone also compared Griezmann’s farewell to the emotional goodbye received by Fernando Torres, another legendary Atletico figure.

“Fernando Torres’ farewell was incredible, and we will probably see something similar again,” he said. “The years go by and the club must continue competing, but Antoine will always be special.”

Finally, while admitting that nobody is completely irreplaceable in football, Simeone made it clear that Griezmann will leave a huge emotional void.

“Irreplaceable? No, because nobody in life truly is. But he is definitely someone very special,” Simeone concluded.

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