MIAMI, Florida — France World Cup-winning attacker Antoine Griezmann is holding talks with Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Orlando City, a source close to the discussions told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).
Griezmann currently plays for Atletico Madrid, where he is the Spanish club’s all-time leading scorer and also netted 44 goals in an illustrious career for his international side.
The 34-year-old’s potential move stateside has been rumored for years, with the player known to be an admirer of other American leagues such as the NBA and L.
A source close to the player confirmed to AFP on Tuesday that “talks had taken place” between the two parties, but “nothing as yet has been agreed.”
Griezmann’s transfer would be a further boost to the rapidly growing US soccer league.
Orlando owns Griezmann’s “discovery rights” — an MLS mechanism giving one team the priority to negotiate a player’s transfer — the source said, confirming a report by The Athletic.
Though Griezmann is no longer a guaranteed starter for Atletico Madrid, he has already scored 12 goals in 36 appearances this season.
After the forward appeared as a substitute in Atletico’s 4-1 Champions League playoff second leg win over Club Brugge on Wednesday, his coach Diego Simeone said Griezmann had earned the right to choose his own future.
“I told him what I think,” said Simeone. “I hope he chooses what he thinks is best and what he wants, because he deserves whatever he wants.”
Atletico president Enrique Cerezo said he was “surprised” to see the news about Griezmann and said he was still “adored by our fans and essential to the team.”