Atletico Madrid's Champions League semi-final showdown will be personal for Antoine Griezmann after the Frenchman formed a vendetta that's been years in the making
A Champions League semi-final against Arsenal will be a somewhat personal affair for Antoine Griezmann. That's after the Frenchman previously revealed his vendetta against the Gunners, long before their European showdown on Wednesday evening.
The Atletico Madrid icon will form a key part of Diego Simeone's plans as Atleti target a spot in this season's continental crescendo. And Mikel Arteta's side are all that's standing between Griezmann and a second Champions League final appearance.
However, it was Arsene Wenger who was in charge when the prospect of Griezmann heading to north London was first raised. The forward was still starring for Real Sociedad at the time and received word of Arsenal's interest, only to be thrown off by the English giants' indecision.
Griezmann, 35, recalled in his 2017 autobiography how former Arsenal player and scout Gilles Grimandi was in contact with his old agent, Eric Olhats. However, it later emerged the 2018 World Cup-winner was perhaps being strung along.
"I waited, I waited, and I kept waiting," he wrote in 'Behind the Smile'. "When there was no news, Eric called Grimandi, who said that the manager was still interested in me [and] to keep waiting.
"Finally a few hours before the market closed, he let us know Arsenal would not make a move. I don't like to be told something and for it not to happen. So when Eric told me later that the London club were interested again I told him ‘Forget it, after the blow they gave us'."
The episode clearly left a sour taste in Griezmann's mouth and put him off Arsenal for good. And he'll have his chance at revenge when the two teams meet at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
Not that the former Ballon d'Or nominee is liable to feel much regret over how his career has turned out, even if it didn't take him to the Emirates. Griezmann is set to exit Atletico and join Major League Soccer side Orlando City at the end of this season and will depart as a club legend.
He'll leave as the club's all-time leading scorer, with 212 goals and 98 assists from 494 total appearances in red and white. Griezmann has helped the club win the Europa League, reach the finals of the Champions League and Copa del Rey, having also won the World Cup towards the end of his first stint.
All that without mentioning a somewhat underwhelming spell with Barcelona, having also racked up 137 caps for France and scored 44 goals in the process. Only Hugo Lloris (145) and Lilian Thuram (142) have made more appearances for Les Bleus, while only Olivier Giroud (57), Kylian Mbappe (56) and Thierry Henry (51) have scored more goals.
Not a bad CV for a player who allegedly wasn't worthy of a follow-up call from the Gunners more than a decade ago. And Griezmann has a beaming opportunity to add to his legacy once again if he manages to help Atletico oust Arsenal from the Champions League.