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LaLiga: Chelsea could hold the key to Manchester United landing Antoine Griezmann
One of the hottest rumours during January was Manchester United’s pursuit of Antoine Griezmann, seen as the final piece in Jose Mourinho’s plan to conquer the Premier League. While the link between the player and the club is hardly new, in England, they’re reporting that the deal is edging ever close to completion. But could Chelsea play a pivotal role in this potential €100m deal happening?
It’s been a season of trial and error by Diego Simeone’s team so far. They originally opted for a more offensive style in the league but it yielded mixed results. While it saw smaller sides opened up and put to the sword it’s been an unmitigated disaster against the stronger teams in the league and they find themselves well outside of the title race – and we’re only at the beginning of February.
Whenever standards drop speculation around your main players’ increases. They come no bigger than Griezmann at Atletico and perhaps their domestic struggles has given hope to United that, unlike in previous years, it might be wise for Antoine to switch projects. Although it’s worth remembering that Atletico are closer to LaLiga leaders Real Madrid – even if Real win both their games in hand – than United are to Chelsea.
Yet it’s Chelsea who may in fact be the ones which makes this deal go through.
Atletico have naturally taken up a defensive stance over the talk of a switch to England, repeatedly stating the player is extremely happy at the club and wouldn’t consider a move away at the moment. Simeone was more receptive to the idea but only if the player expressed a desire to leave, not because he wants to lose the talismanic Frenchman.
One person who might open up the board, coach and player to a move abroad is if Atletico could bring in Diego Costa to replace Griezmann. The Brazilian-born Spaniard spent most of January arguing with Antonio Conte over money and, for a brief moment, it appeared a switch to China was on the cards. People close to the player insist this wasn’t the case and that Costa wasn’t – and isn’t – interested in a move to Asia at this stage of his career, but that he is open to leaving Chelsea in the summer.
Read More: How Antoine Griezmann would fit into Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United
When Chelsea played Real Madrid in the International Champions Cup back in July Costa was seen explaining his situation to Sergio Ramos in the tunnel before the match. Lip readers are an essential tool over in Spain and it became clear that Costa wanted to leave but Chelsea wouldn’t allow it so Atletico signed Kevin Gameiro instead. Speculation in Spain even went as far to say Costa was so desperate for a switch that he rang up Simeone to personally ask him to make the deal happen. Ultimately it didn’t work.
Last night, when asked if Atletico would want to re-sign Costa, Enrique Cerezo responded: “I wish!” The club president later admitted it would be difficult because he was already at a big club but internally they believe it’s a move that could happen. Losing Griezmann would be a massive blow but being able to bring in Costa would certainly even things up.
Atletico fans have already seen Fernando Torres, Sergio Aguero, Diego Forlan, Radamel Falcao and Costa all leave but the financial situation at the club forced those sales. There’s no question Manchester United have the financial means to match his buyout clause but any move would depend entirely on the player’s wishes.
“I’m very happy at Atletico, proud to play for these fans and with these teammates, this coach, but I don’t like these type of questions,” was how he responded when asked about his future. “You don’t ask Cristiano (Ronaldo), (Lionel) Messi or (Gareth) Bale where they’re going, or for which club they’ll be at next year. For this reason I don’t like that you ask me this question. I’m happy and enjoying [my time] at Atletico, don’t ask me about my future anymore.”
Griezmann has a point. In the eyes of some Atletico aren’t viewed as a ‘big team’ despite two Champions League finals in the last three years and managing to topple the big two monopoly Barcelona and Real Madrid hold in Spain by lifting the LaLiga title.
The speculation around Griezmann’s future, as if Atletico are simply a stepping stone, is ignorant. They’re as much a European powerhouse as anyone else these days and it’s exactly that lack of respect which has seen them upset the odds on many an occasion.
I personally don’t see the Paul Pogba friendship as a game changer either.
Anyone who has followed Griezmann’s career in Spain will know the deep affinity he holds to the country as well as his teammates. Even during Euro 2016, in his home country of France, he was often seen mouthing stuff in Spanish. He’s an adopted son in these parts and just because he enjoys a good relationship with Pogba doesn’t mean he’s desperate to leave and join him in Manchester.
To play devil’s advocate, and I know it isn’t the case with every United fan, it’s concerning to see so many question whether he’s good enough for their club. Once again we go to that global bias which doesn’t seem to include Atletico amongst the best sides. Let’s put it this way, signing Griezmann would be a much bigger coup and statement to world football than signing Pogba was. The real question right now is: are United good enough for him?
In amongst all of the speculation there’s one very important, underlying factor: will Atletico Madrid’s transfer ban be reduced to one transfer window, such as what happened with their city neighbours Real, or will they be prohibited from registering players until 2018? Should their ban be upheld then it’s extremely unlikely Griezmann would leave in the summer, even if he was interested in a switch to United, because he has too much respect for the club to depart that way.
So it appears United’s hopes of landing Griezmann are dependent on two factors: One, that Atletico’s transfer ban is reduced and thus they’re free to register players in the summer. And two, that Chelsea are willing to let Diego Costa return to Madrid. At present neither one of those are clear.
