ATLETICO MADRID fans are furious with Antoine Griezmann – after the forward joked that he felt more pressure watching his horse than taking a penalty in the final of the Champions League.
The French star, who is strongly linked with a move to Barcelona, MISSED that penalty, with bitter rivals Real Madrid going on to win the 2016 trophy.
The 27-year-old was at the Lyon-Parilly racetrack to watch his horse Princess, wearing his No 7, in her first race.
She came third.
Speaking after the race, Griezmann quipped: “I’m happy to see her finish in the top three, I’m very proud of her.
“If I felt pressure, yes, it’s even worse than taking a penalty in the final of the Champions League.”
Griezmann was laughing, but the joke went down like a lead balloon in the red and white half of Madrid.
One Atletico fan, AdrianVG wrote that Griezmann is a “fraud” and the “perfect definition” of a loser.
DEC-ISION MADE Atletico striker Griezmann ‘told Simeone in December he would be joining Barcelona’
Another, Javier, wrote that the forward is a “clown”.
The France international has scored 27 goals and added 12 assists this season, but Atletico struggled to mount a serious challenge for the La Liga title.
Diego Simeone’s side are in the final of the Europa League – playing against Marseille on Wednesday night.
Griezmann, who was strongly linked with a move to Manchester United last summer, appears set to move to the Nou Camp.
It appears Atletico will lose their star man, who has a release clause in his contract – it currently stands at €200million (£176m) but DROPS to €100m (£88m) on July 1.
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Reports in Spain claim Griezmann told Simeone he was moving to Barcelona in December, while Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu admitted he met with the player in October.
Atletico even released a statement last week accusing their rivals of “inadequate behaviour” and a “total lack of respect” in their chase of the forward.
The club reiterated that they have “no intention” of selling the player with CEO Miguel-Angel Gil Marin saying that were “sick of Barcelona’s attitude.”
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