Manchester United target Antoine Griezmann cannot be considered a top player until he wins a trophy, claims Rio Ferdinand
RIO FERDINAND reckons Antoine Griezmann cannot be considered a top player until he wins some trophies.
The Atletico Madrid ace is yet to scoop a major piece of silverware with Diego Simeone’s side, having joined shortly after 2014’s La Liga triumph.
Rio Ferdinand reckons Antoine Griezmann needs to win a trophy before being considered a ‘great’ playerReuters
However, Griezmann has suffered Champions League heartbreak while playing for the capital club, and also missed out on Euro 2016 when France lost to Portugal in the final last summer.
Yet his European dreams appear to be over once again following Atletico’s heavy 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid in Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first-leg clash at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Interest in Griezmann is high though, with Manchester United strongly linked as they look for more firepower.
The striker is yet to win a major piece of silverware during his time in the Spanish capitalReuters
But Old Trafford icon Ferdinand believes Griezmann is yet to reach the highest level because of his lack of winner’s medals.
The former England defender told BT Sport: “He was the best player at the Euros, top goalscorer, been to the final, but he needs to get a trophy to really make yourself feel complete.
“The thing that separates him is trophies, and knowing that you’ve been there and done it before. He will have question marks about him, ‘am I letting my team down? We’ve not won a trophy, is it me missing penalties etc.?’”
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Fellow pundit Steve McManaman echoed Ferdinand’s thoughts, adding: “He’s learning every year, and I think this fella is improving as the years go on, but he needs a bit of luck.
“He needs this trophy to define him as a great player.
“He wants that silverware, he wants that Champions League trophy to cement himself as one of the greatest players.”
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