Atlético to make Griezmann and Saúl rojiblancos for life
The Calderón is planning to make two big signings this summer while retaining their current stars, raising the minimum clauses for Griezmann and Saúl.
Antoine Griezmann and Saúl Ñíguez are to be offered deals to remain at Atlético for life at the end of the season. That is the desire of the board and manager Diego Simeone and the club hopes to tie down the two players with improved contracts and higher minimum release clauses before the summer. AS reported recently that Atlético want to hike the France striker’s clause to 100 million euros to ward off interest from Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and PSG. Griezmann’s agents know the club’s intention and the player has reiterated his desire to remain at the Calderón on several occasions: “I am happy where I am. Atlético are in the top five clubs in Europe,” Griezmann said after the France-Holland friendly.
Griezmann has a contract at Atlético until 2020 and has scored 24 goals in 41 games this season.
Saúl is arguably Atlético’s most improved player this season and the Spain under-21 international has become a fixture in Simeone’s first 11. The midfielder also has a contract running until 2020 and his minimum release clause stands at 45 million euros. Atlético also plan to raise that considerably in the face of interest from the Premier League. The problem lies in Saúl’s desire to be placed in the same wage bracket as Griezmann and Koke, full internationals and key players for the side.