According to an article published in L’Équipe this Saturday, Antoine Griezmann would have been affected by Mike Maignan’s statements, made during the September gathering of the France team. The Blues goalkeeper then denounced the behavior of certain “starlets” within the group, words clearly aimed at the group’s executives. The daily claims that the former number 7 of the Blues would have taken these remarks personally, harboring a certain resentment.
Griezmann denies any problem with Maignan
However, this version of events was brushed aside by Griezmann himself. Via a concise but incisive tweet, he wrote: “Fake !”accompanied by emojis pointing to this statement. A reaction which clearly demonstrates his dissatisfaction with what he considers to be an erroneous interpretation of L’Équipe.
This dispute is part of a broader context: the strained relationship between Griezmann and the France team. After a disappointing Euro 2024, marked by mixed results and internal tensions, the Mâconnais announced his international retirement in September. This decision marked the end of an adventure rich in 137 caps and a world champion title, but also a definitive break with a group where he no longer felt fully fulfilled.
No turning back possible for Griezmann.
The September rally, his last in Blue, only confirmed this unease. Deprived of the captain’s armband, awarded to Kylian Mbappé earlier in the year, Griezmann already seemed in the background. Public criticism, such as that attributed to Mike Maignan, has only exacerbated this distance.
The dynamic with Atlético at stake?
On the pitch, the 2018 world champion is in great shape. With Atlético de Madrid, he shines and strings together high-flying performances, once again becoming one of Diego Simeone’s centerpieces. But could this controversy with L’Équipe affect his mentality? This Saturday, he has a meeting with FC Barcelona, a formidable opponent in a La Liga where Atlético remains in ambush for the title.
