Real Madrid have Cristiano Ronaldo, Barcelona have Lionel Messi and Atletico Madrid have Antoine Griezmann ... for now.
The standard bearer. One player that each of those teams looks to in the big moments.
There’s an argument to be made at this juncture that it’s the Frenchman who is becoming the most important of that illustrious trio because, as he showed again in the Madrid derby on Saturday, when the Rojiblancos need him in their hour of need, he invariably delivers.
Ever since his transfer from Real Sociedad, Griezmann has become ever more important, so it’s with a sense of trepidation that the presence of the vultures has been noted at the Vicente Calderon.
Manchester United have coveted the player for some while now and had been seen as an appropriate destination for Griezmann to parade his wares. His skill set is ideally suited to the Premier League and, therefore, such a move makes sense and has merit for both player and club.
And yet, at the 11th hour, rivals Real appear to be prepared to test inter-club relations even further by making their move.
Already at odds with the Atleti hierarchy for their aggressive pursuit of highly-rated Theo Hernandez — against the terms of a non-aggression pact that both clubs were happy to undertake regarding signing players from each other — even just attempting to persuade Griezmann to move across town would spell the end of the cordiality that has existed over the last few seasons. Tellingly, the player himself won’t rule it out.
No amount of money pouring into the Atletico coffers could buy what the Frenchman — surely a future Ballon d’Or winner — gives them. Both in terms of leading from the front and goals/assists.
Perhaps the writing was on the wall as early as the first half dozen games of the season when Griezmann was quoted as saying Atleti would be candidates for relegation if they continued their sluggish start to the campaign.
His words hit a nerve with some of his colleagues but Atleti have been far from hitting the heights that everyone knows they are capable of.
And therein is the kicker.
Both personal and collective success are a better bet elsewhere, whether Diego Simeone chooses to admit the same or not.
A stated aim to be the best in the world arguably will not be fulfilled whilst wearing the red and white stripes.
In the form of his life, he needs to be able to showcase that within a team dynamic that not only embraces what he brings to the table, but improves it immeasurably.
