What if Antoine Griezmann can no longer play for Simeone's Atlético?

When Simeone announced the starting eleven to the Atlético players before the match against Espanyol, Antoine Griezmann wasn't among those chosen. In most of the Frenchman's seasons at Atlético Madrid—he turns ten this year, except for his debut and his return from FC Barcelona—his starting presence on the bench would be a surprise. Not this one.

The Maçon native already began testing out this new role at the end of last season. A season that started off with a bang, scoring 14 goals and five assists in the first six months, but in which he faded to the point of losing his starting spot and starting off on the bench. "We've always talked and established the team's needs first. And from there, we all feel important in the position we occupy," Simeone said in April of last season about the Rojiblanco number 7. A declaration of intent that he has confirmed at the start of this one.

Antoine Griezmann was a player who played more than 3,000 minutes per season, played almost every minute of the season, and also provided much of the Red and Whites' attacking presence. His 198 goals, the club's all-time top scorer, and 86 assists are proof of that.

However, the 28 minutes he played on Sunday project his time on the pitch will barely be half of his usual average. The worst aspect, however, isn't the quantitative aspect of the matter, but the qualitative one. The Frenchman has been dropping his rating match by match according to Sofascore by almost a point on average, going from 7.3 to 6.3, and Whoscored gave him a 5.72, the worst rating for the red-and-white team against Espanyol. According to Stats Perform, the Frenchman barely touched the ball four times against Espanyol and completed two passes.

Simeone dodged the question about whether the team was down after the substitutions, saying, "I learned something for myself; I'll take something away from what we saw," although he was a little less cryptic when he explained that they controlled the game well "until the 60th minute." Griezmann came on in the 68th minute alongside Raspadori for Almada and Baena , and Atlético didn't exactly improve their performance.

The Argentine and the Spaniard are the Frenchman's direct competition for the position, but so is Julián Álvarez , Atlético's current star, if Simeone decides to put Sorloth up front. Raspadori is also in the mix, and could play as a second striker, although he didn't have the dream debut against Espanyol.

Competition and hunger

Adding to the competition is the Frenchman's age and perhaps his hunger, which isn't the same at 34 as it is at 24 for Baena or Almada . Nor is his physique. While last year it was argued that the Frenchman was pushed too hard midseason, playing practically the entire season until January, in this first game of the new season, Griezmann hasn't looked particularly fast.

Amid his slump last season, speculation, with his contract renewal pending, suggested he would leave for the MLS. Griezmann has never hidden his predilection for the American sport, but the Frenchman ultimately extended his contract with Atlético Madrid for two more years, taking a considerable pay cut.

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There are still voices that don't rule out his departure in this summer transfer window, which still has two potentially hectic weeks left. Atlético's sporting management has had one of its busiest windows in recent memory, with nine signings. It's assumed the squad is complete unless a major departure occurs.

Whatever happens, Griezmann's quality could allow him to become an important player again this season. Without playing time with the French national team, which he resigned from in September 2024, the Maçon native has an advantage in terms of wear and tear over internationals Baena and Almada .

The season is long, and no one is saying the Frenchman could have a year that's the opposite of last year's. A somewhat weaker start and a stunning finish. Atlético's success in all the competitions will also depend on this. Simeone needs his most loyal and deadly soldier. He won't be left out.