It is a case that shakes the world of football and which rebounds on one of the stars of the France team, Antoine Griezmann. The 2018 world champion never really had a chance in France when he was young. Considered too small and too frail, he was forced to go into exile in Spain to train. The man who allowed him to change his destiny is called Eric Olhatswhose name can be found everywhere since yesterday after his arrest for acts of sexual abuse of minors and possession of pornographic images of minors.
A “very strong” and “atypical” relationship
The two men met in 2005 during a tournament organized at Camp des Loges, the training center of Paris Saint-Germain. This is where Antoine Griezmann catches the eye of Eric Olhats, who decides to take charge of his career. He convinces his family to let him leave France to join Spain and the Basque Country, where he is from. The 59-year-old will even hosting the footballer for six years at his home in Bayonne. Their relationship is “very strong” and “atypical”as described by Éric Olhats in an interview with Parisian in 2016.
Professionally, the latter is scout for spanish clubs. Responsible for finding future football stars for Atletico Madrid, Antoine Griezmann’s club, he has significant weight in the world of football. Éric Olhats has already had to deal with justice in 2009when he was convicted at first instance for corruption of minors, following a text message “unfortunate”, as he explains. He is finally relaxed the year after and can continue his professional activity with young people.
He didn’t care. For him, it’s not strong. That’s why it disappointed me so much
His relationship with Antoine Griezmann will eventually deteriorate. He explained that questions around the management of the image and the future of Grizou were at the origin of this estrangement. An episode will mark a more severe break, the absence of the Basque at the wedding of his foal and his wife, Erika Choperena. “He was at the head table so for me that meant something strong. Even my sister and my brother were at another table. But he didn’t care. For him, it’s not strong. That’s why it disappointed me so much.”said Antoine Griezmann in a documentary in 2017.
A man in the shadows, Éric Olhats was of paramount importance in the success of Antoine Griezmann, with whom he had a very strong bond for a long time. Today at odds with the footballer, he faces very serious charges and has just been indicted.
Eric Olhats remains presumed innocent until the final judgment of this case.