Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann has said that he has no plans to leave the club and called the constant questioning over whether he will go to Manchester United tiresome.
Antoine Griezmann
Although the 25-year-old is under contract at Atletico until 2021, there has been regular speculation that United are among the clubs considering paying the €100 million release clause in his contract.
Griezmann said he is staying right where he is.
“I am always asked the same question and I am pretty sick of it, but like I always say, I am very happy here,” he told Spain’s TVE Telediario de La1. “I have learned a lot over time, I have the best teammates and a top coach. So I am doing very well here and there is no reason to go.”
France international Griezmann, the top scorer at Euro 2016, is one of world football’s most sought-after players. He has been a key player for Los Colchoneros again this season, scoring 20 goals in 37 appearances in all competitions.
He said that he doesn’t envision Diego Simeone leaving the club anytime soon either.
The Argentine coach, who has been in charge of Atletico since December 2011, is tied to the Madrid outfit until June 2018.
“He likes it here, he sees in us a squad that has more to give and he does as well,” Griezmann said. “He wants to go very far in Champions and La Liga and soon we will have a new stadium. I am sure he will continue with us.”
Atletico are set to leave their Estadio Vicente Calderon for a former athletics stadium on the outskirts of the city, now almost rebuilt into a modern 70,000-seater ground which is battling with Baku’s Olympic Stadium to host the 2018-19 Champions League final.
Griezmann had words of praise for fellow La Liga stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Messi is top, he can completely turn a match around whenever he wants and Cristiano is a player who goes to work, he always strives for the best,” he said.
He admitted that he was impressed with Barcelona’s Champions League comeback.
“In France they were saying that [Paris Saint-Germain] were already through to quarterfinals and they were giving Barcelona zero percent chance,” he said. “And they put on quite a show. That is why I love football.”
