A former MLS and Arsenal midfielder warns the French star that travel, schedule demands, and Orlando’s level could make his U.S. move tougher than expected.
Antoine Griezmann issued curious MLS warning by former star ahead of Orlando switch
Former Arsenal and Colorado Rapids midfielder Anders Limpar has delivered a blunt warning to Antoine Griezmann over his imminent move to Major League Soccer, suggesting the transition may be tougher than expected.
Limpar believes that while Griezmann’s pedigree is unquestioned after more than a decade at the top of European football, the realities of MLS could come as a surprise.
“Over the last 10 years or so Antoine Griezmann has proven he is a world class player but nobody gets any younger. He’s way past 30. He’s seen it all, he’s done it all,” Limpar said.
Orlando fun, but focus required
He acknowledged the appeal of a move to Orlando, but stressed that the environment can be misleading if players lose focus.
“To play in Orlando is an easy life with the sun and everything but you have to have your mind on the football side of things too.”
Limpar also cast doubt on Orlando’s competitive level, warning that Griezmann is not joining one of the league’s strongest sides.
“Orlando are not the best right now. They aren’t a team who are going to compete with the top sides in MLS. Griezmann just needs to put his head down, score goals and make the team better. That is all he has to concern himself with.”
MLS means traveling “like a maniac”
Beyond the team itself, Limpar highlighted the physical toll of MLS, particularly the relentless schedule and travel demands.
“The other side of moving to MLS is the number of games. There are so many games! And the travel too, it’s huge. You have to fly around the country like a maniac for all the games because the country is so big.”
He added that adapting to the league means adjusting to an entirely different rhythm of life compared to Europe.
“You have to really get into a new lifestyle out there because every game is like travelling to an away game in Europe. You go by plane for a few hours.”
For Limpar, who was speaking with newbettingsites.uk, the message is clear: when Griezmann makes the move, success will depend not just on talent, but on how quickly he adjusts to the unique demands of MLS.
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