Griezmann inherits a historical number: the '8' released by Saúl

Antoine Griezmann already has a number on his return to Atlético de Madrid. And if his fetish number had always been '7', on his departure from the club he fell to a João Félix who has all the hopes of the club and coaching staff, so he has had to find an alternative.

Atlético had several free options, the '3', the '25' or the possibility of using the '17' in theory belonging to Saponjic, but has not entered any call so far this season and can still come out in this transfer market to leagues that have the process open (eg Turkey or your native Serbia). That had been Griezmann's number on his arrival at Barcelona, when '7' was occupied by Coutinho, but, finally, the chosen one is the ‘8’ that Saúl Ñíguez has set free in his march to Chelsea. The Frenchman is very adept at the NBA, and he has been seen wearing that number for example with the Kobe Bryant jersey.

A number with a lot of history in Atlético and great references in the club have arrived. Saúl himself, who had carried it since 2016 after Raúl García had freed him a year earlier, a footballer who little by little ended up winning the hearts of all the fans. Gabi had also used it a course (2006-07), before leaving and returning to become an emblem with the ‘14’ on his back. In the rest of the 21st century, '8' had not had so much tour, with Kranevitter, Salvio, Ibagaza, Richard Núñez, Musampa, Albertini and Mena taking it.

But, looking back, it has been a number that has marked many generations of Atléticos. Simeone himself used it before appropriating the '14' with which he won the Double. In those titles it was Vizcaino the one in charge of showing it off. Bernd Schuster, Leivinha, Rubén Ayala, Jabo Irureta and especially Adelardo and Luis Aragonés They gave shine to a number that is now picked up by a Griezmann who has yet to earn the forgiveness of a large part of the fans for the way in which his departure took place. Yes, the french It is undoubtedly part of the rojiblanca history: fifth top scorer (133 goals) and the forty-third with the most games played (257)Figures that you can improve in your second stage as an athlete.