Antoine Griezmann to Real Madrid? Stranger things have happened, especially when a lot of money is being thrown around.
The French striker has been a talismanic figure for Atletico Madrid yet again this season.
He had been subject to fierce speculation about his future for the past 18 months. Signing a new contract last summer and increasing his wages has done little to sate that, especially with the inner turmoil around the Spanish club and uncertainty over coach Diego Simeone’s future.
Manchester United fans got themselves far too excited, last week, after his brother tweeted positively about the club on the same day Memphis Depay took the hint and left for Lyon.
It's that time of year again… https://t.co/OvLPCjYGy2
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) January 25, 2017
If Griezmann is on the market, you can bet Real Madrid will be linked to bringing him aboard. Whether or not Real will pursue him as part of their Always Be Closing Galacticos [ABCG] policy or an agent is linking them to a move to drive up his price is not certain.
On Tuesday, Real boss Zinedine Zidane was asked about the 25-year-old and gave a somewhat frustrated response:
“Griezmann?” You think it’s time to talk about this? I can talk about my players if you want, or tomorrow’s game too. I only think about that.
“If you want to know if he’s a good player, obviously he’s a good player. Is that what you wanted to hear?”
No matter what Zidane said, his response spread like wildfire on social media.
Even if Zidane wanted to sign up his compatriot, his chances are slim. Broached on the subject of a cross-city switch last season, Griezmann declared:
“If Zidane calls me, I will say that I’m at Atletico. Zidane is a great person, but I’m here.”
He committed himself to Atletico for this season and was financially rewarded for it but this summer may yet spark another tranche of speculation.
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