Diego Simeone admits he fears losing Manchester United target Antoine Griezmann as £86million buyout clause leaves Atletico Madrid with ‘no security‘
ATLETICO MADRID boss Diego Simeone admits he fears losing Manchester United target Antoine Griezmann after losing Diego Costa to the Premier League.
Jose Mourinho wants to add the Frenchman to his squad to play with international team-mate Paul Pogba and United know about Griezmann’s £86m buyout clause.
Antoine Griezmann and Diego Simeone have stuck together at Atletico Madrid so farReuters
After smashing the world transfer record in the summer to land Pogba, the Portuguese is clearly not afraid of spending United’s money.
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And the boss – who was forced to cash in on Costa and ex-United man Radamel Falcao – knows he is helpless if the Premier League giants meet the asking price.
When asked if he fears the worst, Simeone – who convinced him to stay in the summer by remaining in charge – said: “Yes, because there is a termination clause.
“There is no security.”
Griezmann and his manager made Atletico into a serious La Liga forceGetty Images
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Simeone revealed how the contract talks went in the summer with the player/manager partnership deciding together to stay in Madrid.
He said: “That’s what he told me – if you stay, I’ll stay.
“And I said yes, why would I not stay? And they began to work with the representatives for everything that had to be signed. And he stayed.
“And from now on I do not know what can happen.
The France star vowed to stick with Madrid in the summer as long as Simeone stayed tooGetty Images
"He would never let me tell him to stay.
“I did not do it with Costa or Falcao.
"To the players who have given me life I accompany them in the decisions that they make.
“But it is clear that for as long as he stays, the team and the club will continue to grow.”
Paul Pogba and Griezmann are best buddies and are set for a partnership at Old TraffordGetty ImagesJose Mourinho would have to spend over £80million to add Griezmann to his squadGetty Images
But reports from France on Thursday insist he has reached a pivotal point in his career as Simeone’s men have dropped out of the top three and the Champions League slots.
Real Madrid are ten points ahead of Griezmann’s side at the top and even second-placed Barca have an eight-point gap.
Sevilla have even sneaked two points ahead of Atletico, to creep into third, despite failing to win any of their last three La Liga games.
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