“Please stay” – Super Eagles star issues plea against Griezmann’s Orlando move

Super Eagles and Atletico Madrid attacker Ademola Lookman has pleaded with French forward Antoine Griezmann to extend his stay at the Metropolitano, Afrik Foot reports.

The 35-year-old joined Atletico Madrid from Real Sociedad for €54m in 2014, and has gone on to spend ten seasons with the Red and Whites.

In that time, he made history, winning the UEFA Europa League in 2018, and became the club’s record goalscorer (211), 52 more than the next on the list, Luis Aragones.

Griezmann will end his European football career this summer, after agreeing on a deal to join MLS side Orlando City.

Lookman pleads for Griezmann to stay at Atletico

Ademola Lookman only just joined Diego Simeone’s side back in February, and has just a few weeks left with the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner.

In an interview with ESPN, the former Atalanta forward spoke about Griezmann’s impact in their Champions League victory over Barcelona, and wishes the Frenchman would stay for a little while longer.

“What I’ve seen from him [Griezmann] doesn’t surprise me because he’s a legend, for what he’s brought to the game, and for what he represents,” the 2024 CAF Player of the Year said about Griezmann.

“Obviously, training with him every single day, you think, Wow!

“There are moments where I just think to myself, Maybe he can stay a bit longer here. Can you stay?

“Seeing all that he is, up close, you always appreciate and learn from him, it’s an absolute pleasure, Lookman concluded.

In his first spell at Atletico, Griezmann finished 3rd in the Ballon d’Or rankings twice, first in 2016, then in 2018.