Atletico Madrid superstar Antoine Griezmann has revealed his admiration for David Beckham and that he considers the Manchester United legend his idol.
Antoine Griezmann has gone from being a threat on the wings during his time at Real Sociedad, to one of the most potent attacking outlets in European football at Atletico Madrid under the tutelage of El Cholo. The French international’s transition from a pacey winger with goals in his repertoire to becoming a worthy challenger to the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in La Liga is truly commendable.
Griezmann has scored 22 league goals in each of the previous two seasons while also winning the Golden Boot award at Euro 2016 as he finished the tournament with the highest number of goals. The player has started this season with a bang with 5 goals already to his name in 5 La Liga appearances and the term goal has almost become synonymous with the player’s name (stats via whoscored).
However, there is another thing that has become a constant presence in all of his performances, his jersey. The player has been seen sporting long-sleeved jerseys in the warmest of conditions, a sight the on-lookers can affirm in the club’s season opener against Leganes in the middle of the summer.
The French superstar made an appearance on Spanish Radio Channel Onda Cero and revealed Manchester United legend David Beckham as the reason for the long-sleeved jerseys.
Griezmann said,“ I wear long sleeves when I play because of Beckham, he did as well and he is my idol.”
And the Rojiblancos forward did not stop there as he added a few words about the United legend, thus affirming his admiration for the former England international.
“ He had a lot of class on and off the pitch. That is what I liked about him. No one had the right foot he had. I’ve never spoken to him but I would like to,” Antoine told Onda Cero.
Perhaps, this is the reason why the forward sports the iconic number 7 jersey for Atletico Madrid, akin to what his boyhood idol David Beckham, now 41, wore during his playing time.
Griezmann has been speculated to being the subject of interest from Manchester United and if the Red Devils do end up targeting the player come the end of the 2016-17 season, the 25-year-old could be provided with the opportunity to emulate his idol and wear the legendary number 7 jersey for the Red Devils.
Manchester United could hand the French superstar to live his dream at Old Trafford, also known as the Theatre of Dreams; which seems like an apt name in this scenario.
