This isn’t a good look.
Manchester United, amongst a plethora of rival European giants, have been all over Antoine Griezmann like a rash in recent years. He is one of the most coveted talents in world football, and is seen as eminently sellable as a commercial ‘face’ of football. When you combine footballing talent with a popular personal ‘brand’, you’re onto a winner.
But Griezmann’s reputation has waned in the last 12 months. First there was his dramatic reneging on a move to Old Trafford that seemed a formality, then there was the very unsavoury incident of blacking up to look like a Harlem Globetrotter around Christmas time. It was widely lambasted, and for very good reason too.
'It is never just a joke, and it is never *just* blackface.'
The excellent @judeinlondon2 explains what shouldn't need explaining.https://t.co/6rCkLTGI4j
— JOE (@JOE_co_uk) December 18, 2017
Now he is being criticised for his bizarre behaviour during Atletico Madrid’s game with Valencia over the weekend. Late into the game, the French international was in possession of the ball with his side 1-0 up in the crunch fixture. Angel Correa’s 25-yard strike was the difference, and there were two minutes of injury time left on the clock.
Griezmann was – perhaps wisely – wasting time and holding onto possession. However the Atletico fans wanted him to start another counter-attack to double the lead, and started to jeer him for his safety-first tactics. He may have been doing the right thing, but his reaction to their boos was childish to say the least.
Whilst still in possession of the ball, he very visibly started arguing with the fans, gesturing for them to get lost and shushing them. It wasn’t a good look and made him look like a petulant brat. For his part, Diego Simeone told beIN SPORTS:
“The communion between the team and the fans is spectacular. Griezmann made very good decisions through the whole game. He did what he had to do. Logically what the fans want is to win, and they have gone home happy.”
Griezmann arguing with his own fans while the ball is in play, McKimmie style. pic.twitter.com/IyMGA8auXQ
— Jim Douglas (@Jim__Douglas) February 4, 2018
Griezmann frena el contragolpe.
El público se lo recrimina.
El francés manda callar y se encara. #MovistarPartidazo pic.twitter.com/iQCShQuu26— Fútbol en Movistar Plus+ (@MovistarFutbol) February 4, 2018
