Antoine Griezmann has been an uncontrollable flirt this week. With a book to promote, Griezmann, who it’s fair to say likes the fame game, has been speaking to the French media and talking up a potential transfer.
So suggestive was Griezmann this week about a potential transfer, he left a French TV journalist visibly taken aback. Declaring a Manchester United transfer quite possible, and giving it a 6/10 chance, the Atletico Madrid player knew exactly what he was doing… he even said so.
Sure, he gave staying at Atletico a 7/10 chance, but he didn’t have to get into rating his transfer chances in the first place. Questions are asked, but it was quite obvious the person asking the questions expected Griezmann to wriggle out of them.
Even Paul Pogba and Mino Raiola didn’t get this brazen so early on. Pogba’s stint on US TV, in which he held up Manchester United, Juventus, and Real Madrid shirts and spoke a little, was never quite so wink-wink-nudge-nudge as what Griezmann did.
There are, understandably, murmurs of discontent among the Atleti faithful, regardless of whether Griezmann is using the situation to up his own profile, or whether he really is considering a Manchester United future.
Marca have a look at the situation in their Wednesday edition. And before any of this is dismissed as Marca sour grapes, or them being anti-Manchester United, it really isn’t any of that.
There’s a suggestion Griezmann is trying to up his profile, with the autobiography one reason, and a big summer move another possible motivator. Marca point out a third way, with Griezmann and Atletico recently having contact over an improved contract.
The Spanish newspaper, quite interestingly, point out that for several months Griezmann has been annoyed when questioned on his future.
Especially when speaking in Spain, it’s noted, Griezmann has committed himself to Atletico and to the city of Madrid, becoming increasingly irritated when anyone dared to bring up a potential transfer.
The scenario of Griezmann not leaving Atletico if their transfer ban is upheld, out of love for the club and not dropping them in it, is also questioned, given the player’s suggestion his future depends on Atleti’s ability to win and that will in turn “depend on the signings”.
Atletico are also becoming ‘uncomfortable’ with Griezmann’s advisor Eric Olhats. That’s not the player’s agent, he doesn’t have one, but the scout who spotted him for Real Sociedad, who took him in, and who has advised his career to this day.
No tax now payable on Spanish buyout clauses, leaving Man United free run at Griezmann. #MUFC https://t.co/KR3mlOX1me
— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) March 6, 2017
Olhats has been happily speaking to the French media this year, repeatedly talking up a potential transfer and approaches from clubs including Manchester United.
This makes Atletico ‘uncomfortable’ because Olhats still has a role with Real Sociedad and the San Sebastian club will receive 20% of any transfer fee, according to Marca.
So if Manchester United pay the €100m clause, Real Sociedad get €20m. A big chunk of money for the Basque club, with the suggestion Olhats has a conflict of interest.
Antoine Griezmann wants to spin one line through the Spanish media, and another through the French, which, in 2017, isn’t going to hold.
