All transfer rumours must be taken with a healthy dose of sodium.
The reliability of sources is key, which is why the latest update in the ‘Antoine Griezmann to Manchester United’ saga seems worth taking note of.
United’s interest in the Atletico Madrid forward has been well-known for over a year but it seems like the wheels are finally in motion to bring the Frenchman to Old Trafford this summer.
One of the best-connected journalists in Madrid, Antonio Ruiz, has reported that Griezmann has officially told Atleti that he wishes to leave the club in the transfer window.
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID | @RuizAntonito: "Griezmann le ha transmitido a la zona noble del club que quiere salir".
— Deportes Cope (@deportescope) May 30, 2017
Immediately after the above tweet was posted, messages supporting Antonio’s reliability followed from the Spaniard’s peers.
This journalist @RuizAntonito is v good on Atletico Madrid and says that Griezmann has told Atletico he wants to leave the club.
— Andy Mitten (@AndyMitten) May 30, 2017
Griezmann’s now informed Atleti he wishes to leave the club.
(Via the very reliable @RuizAntonito). #MUFC
— David Cartlidge (@davidjaca) May 30, 2017
Being reported by the very reliable @RuizAntonito that Antoine Griezmann has told Atlético Madrid that he wants to leave the club pic.twitter.com/dbVwLQ8Y6e
— Jonas Adnan Giæver (@CheGiaevara) May 30, 2017
Griezmann was rumoured to be awaiting the result of United’s Europa League final against Ajax last week as Champions League participation was believed to be key in his decision-making.
Now that Jose Mourinho can guarantee football in Europe’s premier club competition, Old Trafford is thought to have become a significantly more appealing destination for the 26-year-old.
United look set to trigger Griezmann’s release clause, believed to be in the region of £86 million, to add extra firepower to their attack for the 2017/18 season.
There’s still a long way to go before this deal gets over the line but a player telling his club that he wants to move on is definitely a cause for excitement for United fans.
