Antoine Griezmann will join Orlando City in Major League Soccer once the 2025–26 European season concludes. That will force Atletico Madrid to find a replacement, with Argentina star Lautaro Martinez emerging as one of the leading candidates.
According to Diario AS, the consolidation of Apollo Sports Capital as Atletico Madrid’s majority shareholder this year will allow the club to make a major investment to strengthen the squad. In that context, signing a forward to replace Griezmann has become a top priority.
Martinez has been on Atletico Madrid’s radar since his days at Racing Club in the Argentine league. At the time, negotiations were advanced, but in 2018 Inter Milan completed his signing for $25 million.
Since then, Lautaro has developed into one of Serie A’s top stars, scoring 171 goals in 370 appearances for Inter, but Atletico Madrid’s interest has never faded. Now, with his Argentina teammate Julian Alvarez already in the squad, the two could form a formidable attacking partnership.
However, any move for Lautaro Martinez will not be easy, given his importance to Inter and his high market value, estimated at €85 million ($98 million) by Transfermarkt. “An insatiable goalscorer, but very difficult to prise away from Inter, where he is captain and under contract until 2029,” Diario AS reports.
Other alternatives to replace Griezmann
If a deal for Lautaro Martinez does not materialize, Atletico Madrid have reportedly been monitoring another Argentina forward: Joaquin Panichelli, who plays for RC Strasbourg in France.
Panichelli has impressed this season, scoring 20 goals in 39 appearances across Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the UEFA Europa Conference League. Those performances earned him call-ups from Lionel Scaloni for the FIFA international breaks in November 2025 and March 2026.
That had put him in strong contention to be Argentina’s third striker at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, behind Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez. However, a serious knee injury has ruled Panichelli out, something that likely also impacts any potential move to Atletico Madrid.
The Spanish side could also opt for players with different profiles and, instead of a traditional striker, target more versatile options. Among them are 20-year-old Bayer Leverkusen star Ibrahim Maza, an attacking midfielder, as well as Olympique Marseille forward Mason Greenwood and Paris Saint-Germain winger Lee Kang-in.