Antoine Griezmann: “Everything Carlos Vela did in MLS with LAFC made me want to do the same”
The Orlando City forward acknowledged that Carlos Vela was one of the reasons he chose to begin this new chapter in MLS.
The Antoine Griezmann era in MLS with Orlando City has officially begun. On Tuesday, the French superstar was unveiled by the Purple Lions, a squad he will debut for in a matter of weeks, joining an MLS landscape where headliners like Lionel Messi, Thomas Müller, and Heung-Min Son dominate the spotlight.
Alongside Robert Lewandowski, Griezmann becomes yet another global star set to make his highly anticipated league debut in the coming weeks. Ahead of his first match, Griezmann took to the podium during Tuesday’s press conference to reveal exactly why he chose to sign with Major League Soccer.
Griezmann acknowledged that his close friendship with Carlos Vela played a pivotal role in his decision. Witnessing what the Mexican forward achieved in MLS with LAFC was more than enough motivation for Griezmann to follow in his footsteps, looking to emulate the legacy his former Real Sociedad teammate built in Los Angeles.
“In the end, I think everything Carlos did with LAFC made me want to do the same,” Griezmann revealed. “He is an incredible player for MLS and for his club. Hopefully, I can get close to that level.”
Griezmann sets sights on Leagues Cup
One of Griezmann’s first major tests with Orlando City will come in the Leagues Cup, where the Lions are set to clash with Liga MX sides Monterrey, León, and Atlético San Luis.
Griezmann called it an honor to test himself against top Mexican clubs, noting that he wants to use the tournament to bring silverware to Orlando City.
“It will be an honor to face Mexican teams in this competition, and hopefully we can give our fans something to celebrate,” Griezmann said.
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