Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has dismissed speculation linking Antoine Griezmann to Manchester United.
Antoine Griezmann will remain with Atletico Madrid for a long time, according to club president Enrique Cerezo who claimed that the Frenchman is happy with life in the Spanish capital, thus effectively dismissing rumours linking the forward with a summer move to Manchester United.
Speaking to Spanish radio station Cadena COPE ahead of Atletico Madrid’s Copa Del Rey semifinal second leg, Cerezo was visibly confident when enquired about Griezmann’s situation at the club. He said,”Every time I see Antoine I give him a hug. Antoine is a fantastic player and loves life at Atletico.”
He further went on to address speculation linking Griezmann with a move to Manchester United in the summer transfer window, as he added,”I don’t know what Manchester United’s interest is. But Griezmann will be at Atletico for a long time.”
Antoine Griezmann has turned into a footballing superstar ever since joining Atletico Madrid in 2014. And the 25-year-old is perhaps one of the most sought after players in Europe currently, after a successful year that saw him grab the Golden Boot in Euro 2016.
The numbers tell the tale too, with Griezmann scoring 72 goals in 138 appearances for Atletico Madrid in all competitions at an impressive rate of 145 minutes per goal. And he has continued his rich vein of form this season as well, scoring 15 goals in 31 matches in all competitions.
Surely enough, his exploits at the Vicente Calderon have resulted in the best clubs in Europe sit up and take notice of his talents, and the likes of Arsenal, Inter Milan and Real Madrid have all been linked with a move for Griezmann.
But, Manchester United have looked the closest of all the clubs to acquire the services of the Frenchman, with reports stating that Griezmann has already “verbally agreed” a deal to move to Old Trafford in the summer.
The Red Devils have long been admirers of Griezmann’s talents and view him as a long-term replacement for Wayne Rooney. Suffice to say, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho could do with a player of the calibre of the France international, with his side’s struggles in front of goal (United have the third worst conversion rate in Premier League at 8.46%).
Griezmann’s deal with Los Rojiblancos runs till the end of the 2021 season, and he has a release clause worth €100 million, but that is unlikely to deter Manchester United, who broke the world transfer record when they signed Paul Pogba this past summer for a similar amount.
However, Enrique Cerezo remains confident that Griezmann is going nowhere, and it now remains to be seen if Manchester United can do anything to test his resolve when the summer transfer window opens in June.
