17 August 2023 , 16:24
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Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann hailed Lionel Messi’s move to MLS.
The Argentine icon's contract expired at French champions PSG this summer and he rejected a move to the lucrative Saudi Pro League in favour of David Beckham-owned Inter Miami. He's made a sensational start to life on America’s east coast, and now Messi's former Barcelona teammate Griezmann is pleased to see the impact he has already made.
“He’s an incredible player and I think the best thing MLS has done is to sign up Leo - just for advertising and also for the sports quality,” the 32-year-old told the Daily Mail. “It’s my objective – to end my football career there, to be able to enjoy the league and all the other sports leagues there because I really follow them. I’m a true fan.”
Along with Messi, Beckham signed two more Barcelona legends in the form of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. Since the trio’s arrival the pair the team have won six straight games and are in the final of the Leagues Cup - the first final in Inter Miami’s five-year history.
Griezmann visited the club alongside teammate Koke earlier this year and the Frenchman has previously stated desire to represent the club and play under its owner - his idol and the Manchester United legend. “If Beckham wants me in his club, then I'll go,” he said back in 2018.
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Expanding on his desire to play in MLS, the 2018 World Cup winner added: “I’ve always said that my objective would be to end there. Because I like American sports, I’d like to play in MLS and to enjoy playing there – to be competitive, to be able to win there and to play at my top level.
“But first of all, I’d like to continue to make history here. To win titles here with Atletico. We’ll see obviously in the future but for me one of my objectives is to end up playing in MLS.” MLS is not the only American sport Griezmann has shown interest in.
Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann were teammates at FC Barcelona (AFP via Getty Images)This year he watched the Miami Heat defeat the New York Knicks in May, and attended the Miami Marlins MLB game against the Atlanta Braves. The France international was already a huge fan of the NFL and NBA and now he enjoys some of America’s most popular pastimes, baseball and fantasy football.
Furthermore, he has been teaching his four-year-old son how to play some of America’s most popular sports and allowing him to decide his favourites. “I’m doing a lot of fantasy matches. In baseball I think I’ve got one this year, in the NBA I have two. So there I am, looking at all the results and looking at the players,” he said.
“You watch things, all different moves. For example the quarterbacks – their vision during the match. And I’m very interested since last year in baseball. My four-year-old son, I am throwing him American balls. I bought him a baseball bat and at home we also have a net up on the wall. So let’s see how he plays basketball. He can choose to play what he likes best.”