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For the first time since turning professional in 2009, Antoine Griezmann is set to take on a league outside of Spain when the 35-year-old makes his MLS debut for Orlando City SC.
The Eastern Conference side is set to kick off its post-FIFA World Cup break campaign on Wednesday, July 22 when they face Timo Werner's San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park in California.
With Orlando now back in training ahead of their return to action, interim boss Martín Perelman spoke about how 2018 World Cup winner and Atlético Madrid icon Griezmann is settling in down in the Sunshine State.
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“With [Griezmann], it's unique. I will repeat one more time. As a player, I'm not going to talk about him, because everybody knows,” he said. “But as a person, we are more than happy. He's so humble, so unique, so special.
“The energy he brought to the locker room and to all of us, his magic, it's unique. I think everybody is enjoying him, me as well. And he merged with the great group that we have here, so we are more than happy.”
Griezmann joins after 16 seasons in La Liga with Atleti, Real Sociedad, and Barcelona, along with a single season in La Liga 2 as a youngster. During that span, the French legend won the UEFA Europa League, Super Cup, the Copa del Rey, Supercopa de España, and reached a Champions League Final.
All in all, he amassed an astounding 205 goals and 101 assists in 564 La Liga appearances, along with 44 goals and 16 assists in 120 Champions League outings. Griezmann also came third in the Ballon d’Or voting twice and was once voted La Liga’s Best Player.
Griezmann also became a cornerstone of the French national team for a decade, appearing in 137 games and scoring 44 goals en route to two World Cup Finals, a European Championship Final, and a Nations League title.
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Now a member of a struggling Orlando side, currently sitting 13th in the East, Griezmann will hope to play a pivotal role in their turnaround, with the club having also recently signed 10-time U.S. Men’s National Team striker Daryl Dike after his contract with EFL Championship side West Bromwich Albion ended.
“Here I am, very eager, and my goal is to win a trophy and make the whole city happy,” Griezmann said during his introductory press conference, via SI. The veteran went on to add, “The group is fantastic. Players with a lot of quality, with a lot of heart, and they’ve welcomed me incredibly, and I already feel at home. It feels like I’ve been here for months in the locker room, and that’s thanks to them.”
Griezmann also reiterated something he made public many years ago - his long-held desire to end up in the MLS. “Since I was 18 years old, my dream was to come to Major League Soccer,” he said.
“It was important for me to arrive physically and mentally well, and that’s why I made the move ... I came to visit the city, and we loved it. The kids loved it as well. It’s incredible how we've been received by everyone, and I hope I can return that love to everyone.”
Should Griezmann make his debut against San Jose, July 22 could represent a landmark day for the MLS, with Polish icon Robert Lewandowski also potentially in line to make his league debut for the Chicago Fire against Lionel Messi's Inter Miami.
