Simeone says he won’t tie Griezmann down as Manchester United move closer

There was plenty of news from the Atletico Madrid camp yesterday regarding Wang Jianlin, Antoine Griezmann and an investigative piece by Dermot Corrigan.

Diego Simeone was trying to sound aloof when he said it, but his comments make it sound like Atletico Madrid are getting ready for life after Antoine Griezmann.

“I don't tie anyone down, I simply keep working to continue getting better for the sake of the club. he is in an extraordinary moment, is working well, has gotten back on the scoresheet and his form is good. It is normal that the best teams in the world want him. I am not surprised that the teams who are looking are the ones who can afford him,” Simeone said in his press conference before the Eibar game, according to AS English.

Manchester United are lurking in the shadows and are ready to pounce on Griezmann in the summer, or so the rumours go, and Dermot Corrigan also wrote an excellent piece for the Independent that suggests Atletico will have to sell some of their star players in order to repay a loan to Carlos Slim’s bank. The loan of €160 million needs to be paid soon, which means some of Atletico’s most prized assets are not safe - yes, this includes Koke and Saul Niguez.

So, when you hear people saying “you can do a lot with €100 million”, the chances are Atletico Madrid won’t get the chance to do anything because it will be going straight back to Mexico and to Carlos Slim.

There was, however, news in that Wang Jianlin, the owner of Wanda Group, said he did not invest in Atletico Madrid in order to make money. He says Atletico burn money rather than make it for him, but that he is in the business of sport in order to access other global markets.

So, Wang? How about a €100 million to replace Griezmann then?