If you think Antoine Griezmann has nightmares late at night involving Cristiano Ronaldo, it is a forgivable – though a highly unlikely – assumption. Twice was the Portuguese ace’s side the catalyst of the Frenchman’s heartbreak; once with Atletico Madrid and the other with his national side.
The three-time Ballon d’Or winner scored the winning penalty goal, as Real Madrid lifted the Champions League at the expense of Griezmann and Co. Shortly afterwards, France lost the Euro 2016 final to Portugal, though Cristiano played an insignificant role due to a first-half injury.
Griezmann himself, though, insists that there is no animosity between him and the 31-year-old. In fact, the former Real Sociedad ace claims that the Blancos superstar remains one of his idols.
The 25-year-old talked to L’Equipe (per the Daily Mail), admitting that they were neighbors and thus used to greet each other often. Antoine said: “Ronaldo used to be my neighbour and he passed my house every day.
“We always greeted each other. But I moved house last year. I do not live far away now, but you do not meet as regularly.”
Ronaldo recently revealed that he ran into the Atletico attacker whilst on holiday in Miami, with the Frenchman saying “I hate you” to the Ballon d’Or favorite. Griezmann admitted that this was true, but added that their run-in was coincidental and that his remark was merely a joke.
“But we did meet this summer in Miami. I was on holiday with my partner and we met Cristiano in a restaurant. It was a huge coincidence. I went up to him to congratulate him for Portugal's Euro 2016 win and Madrid's Champions League victory.”
“I joked that I hated him, because I was still suffering after the Euro 2016 final.
"But I obviously do not feel differently about him because he beat me in two major finals and scored a hat-trick at the weekend. I have a lot of respect for him.
"If I was still a young kid, I would probably be a fan of him, just like I would be a fan of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Paul Pogba."
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