Antoine Griezmann's decision to stay at Atlético Madrid, announced this week, has relaunched speculations on a possible return to the French team. A former international, respected voice of the hexagonal media, took the opportunity to launch a fiery plea in favor of the Mâconnais. Without named it, he hammered : “A player of this level, in a large European club, must be in blue. Current technical deficiencies prove it ”. An exit calculated, while Griezmann, 34, had surprised by announcing his international retirement in October 2024, after 137 selections.
It was during his program on RMC that the old Monaco midfielder lifted the veil. For Jérôme Rothen, the maintenance of Griezmann at the highest European level is a “Strong signal”. “If he had opted for the MLS, we would have thought that he was turning the page. There he still believes in Atlético … and therefore in the selection “he argues, stressing that the player “continues the minutes, rarely injured” and remains “essential” to fill the creative emptiness of the Blues. An argument supported by recent tricolor performances, where the lack of vision in the midfield was glaring.
Can Griezmann still return to blue?
A strong call for Griezmann's return to selection
If Rothen avoids overwhelming Didier Deschamps, he points to a persistent “misunderstanding”. Griezmann, deprived of the Captain armband for the benefit of Kylian Mbappé in 2023, would have badly experienced his relegation to the bench during Euro 2024. “We made him feel that he was no longer a priority”slides the former international, recalling that the coach has
“Changed plan” To favor the speed of Mbappé and Dembélé to the detriment of the positional game. A dynamic that would have precipitated the retirement of number 7, despite still solid statistics (12 goals, 7 assists in 2024/2025).
Rothen also sweeps away the idea that Michael Olise, author of a good recent performance, can replace Griezmann. “On the vista, experience and regularity, there is no photo”he asserts, stressing that the Bayern winger lacks “Tactical maturity” To put on this role. An observation shared by other observers, who note that the Blues have lost 40% of their key passes since Griezmann's departure.
Available farewell, ajar door
Finally, an intrigue detail: Griezmann refused an official farewell ceremony, preferring a friendly match in Mâcon. “If he wanted to turn the page definitively, he would have accepted. There he leaves doubt ”, Rothen analysis. A tenuous, but real hope, for Deschamps … provided that the dialogue is reconnected.
