Xavi Hernandez Reveal The Reason for Griezmann Departure From ...

The relationship between FC Barcelona and Antoine Griezmann never quite clicked. After several challenging seasons, the French international decided to return to Atlético Madrid in 2021, on loan with an option to buy.

Therefore, he was never under Xavi's orders, who arrived a few months later. In a press conference, the coach revealed that his departure was solely due to financial reasons: "We decided to let Antoine Griezmann go only because of the financial situation. The club had to let him go. Griezmann is a player I really like, but he left just because of that."

A year later, the forward permanently joined the Colchoneros for 22 million euros. Since then, Antoine Griezmann has regained his best form in the capital. The Mâcon native has even become the club's all-time top scorer, solidifying his status as a living legend.

Antoine Griezmann

Club Atlético de Madrid