Antoine Griezmann's departure from Atlético Madrid after a decade at the club has raised questions about the future of manager Diego Simeone. The French forward, who announced he would join Orlando City at the end of the season, leaves having won only a Europa League, a Uefa Super Cup and a Supercopa de España during his time at the club. His final chance to add a Champions League title ended with a semi-final defeat to Arsenal.
Griezmann had initially planned to leave in March, but was persuaded to stay after Atlético's unexpected run to the Champions League semi-finals and Copa del Rey final. However, the team lost the cup final to Real Sociedad and fell short in Europe, meaning Griezmann's last European match for Atlético was in London rather than Budapest.
The defeat to Arsenal has sparked speculation about the future of Simeone, who has been in charge since 2011. No other manager in Spanish football has lasted as long, but with key players like Griezmann, Koke and Jan Oblak ageing, there are signs that an era may be ending. Simeone's contract runs until 2027, but the question of whether he will remain is open.
At 35, Griezmann is the club's all-time top scorer and a World Cup winner. He, along with Koke and Oblak, are three of the four players with the most appearances in Atlético's history. Their departures could signal a period of intense change at the club, as younger players like Julián Alvarez are expected to take on greater responsibility.
