Griezmann tells Atlético he is staying
Amid the rumours once again linking him with Barcelona, Griezmann has told Atlético Madrid that he is going nowhere this summer.
With the departure of Lucas Hernandez to Bayern Munich in the summer, Atlético Madrid will frantically be on the hunt for defenders. But the club can rest easy in the fact that star man Antoine Griezmann will not be following his French compatriot to the Wanda exit door.
The French striker has recently publically stated that he is “fed up” of the constant rumours linking him with a move to Barcelona. And in private, he has also told Diego Simeone and the club’s hierarchy that he has no intentions of leaving this summer.
Atlético set his buyout clause at 200 million euros when he renewed his contract last year. However that clause will drop to 120 million euros in July, a figure which Atlético will no doubt be aware would make him more accessible to Europe’s bigger clubs. The club had agreed with the player to lower the clause from July 1 to facilitate his possible exit should he look for it.
Griezmann believes Atlético can win titles under Simeone
But if Griezmann has told Atlético that he wants to day, they will know it is because he is happy and believes that he can win titles under Simeone.
On their part, Atlético does not want to have a footballer that is not committed to the cause and thinking he would be happier at another club. Griezmann did not play to his highest standard in the 3-0 loss to Juventus in the second leg of the last-16 Champions League tie, but neither did any ofthe Simeone’s men that day. And as such, his commitment could not be questioned judged on that performance.
For Atlético's next game at Alavés on Saturday, Simeone is set to play the Frenchman on the wing, a position in which the Argentine coach wants to try him out in certain games.