Antonie Griezmann’s return with Barcelona to his former stomping grounds did not go as well as expected.
One of the subplots in Barcelona’s win against Atletico Madrid centered around the return of Antoine Griezmann.
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Atletico supporters are not quick to forgive and forget as demonstrated by the items left in the Frenchman’s plaque outside the Wanda Metropolitano.
Toy rats left on Antoine Griezmann's plaque outside the Wanda Metropolitano. https://t.co/lxBMN7WeyN
— The Spanish Football Podcast (@tsf_podcast) December 1, 2019
Once the game started, anytime Griezmann so much as got close to the ball, the stadium filled with boos and whistles directed at the man they used to cheer. A banner was also unfurled that read, “You wanted to be a name but forgot to be a man.”
#frac1 | 📸 Pancarta dedicada a Griezmann al Wanda:
— El Barça juga a RAC1 (@FCBRAC1) December 1, 2019
"Querías tener un nombre y se te olvidó ser hombre". pic.twitter.com/jNLpLyhpxN
According to ESPN, supporters also chanted “Griezmann die” as the players were warming up on the pitch. That chant is what has landed the club in a bit of hot water.
Diario Sport report that La Liga plan to report the chant. Should the Competition Committee find anything wrong, Atletico Madrid could face a partial stadium ban and a maximum fine of €90,000.
Griezmann left Atletico in the summer one season after seemingly pledging his commitment with Los Colchoneros and snubbing his current club in the process.
His transfer was filled with much controversy after Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo claimed that Barcelona began talks with Griezmann back in March therefore nullifying the €120 million release clause.
He threatened to take the case to La Liga which he did but the Catalans were only hit with a small fine.
As for Barcelona, the club has gotten used to rival supporters taking chants a bit too far. The Catalan Derby away to Espanyol has resulted in derogatory chants against Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique and his wife, Shakira.
Griezmann has struggled to adapt to the Barça style of play but showed flashes in the match against his former club obviously hyped for the occasion.
In certain moments of the game, he seemed to revel in the boos as he took a few extra touches on the ball to let the home support get it out of their system. While he hoped to be more influential, he is probably happy the team won and is back at the top of the table.
Now we wait to see if the league will hand down any sort of punishment. Griezmann can also take some solace that his “homecoming” is now out of the way.