Diego Simeone has expressed gratitude to Antoine Griezmann for gracing Atletico Madrid with five faultless seasons.
Griezmann left the club for Barcelona just over a week ago, a move that upset many at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Atletico claim the LaLiga champions still owe an additional €80million, believing Barca to have privately agreed terms with the France international before his release clause dropped from €200m to €120m on July 1.
The sense of resentment is not shared by Rojiblancos boss Simeone, who holds no ill will towards the player he signed from Real Sociedad in 2014.
I talked with him a lot, Simeone told TyC Sports. It s an important moment in his career in which he decided to move to an extraordinary team like Barcelona.
I am grateful to the people who have been with us. People are normally valued for the final decision, but not by me. I value the five years he gave us that were faultless.
He gave his best, he improved as a player and he listened to us. He makes me happy as a coach.
— Antoine Griezmann (@AntoGriezmann)
I love him very much and I have a great relationship with the family.
Obviously he s going to a very strong team and surely if he maintains the rhythm of when he was among the best he will have a great season.
Griezmann won the Europa League and secured two third-place finishes in the Ballon d Or under Simeone s guidance.
The mutual respect between the pair has shone through amid the tension between Griezmann and his former employers.
I am lucky to have learned from Cholo Simeone, the World Cup winner said in the wake of his move to Barca.
