Atletico Madrid’s huge blow in a bid to reach the 2017 Champions League final may have put the club on the verge of losing Antoine Griezmann. Manchester United have reportedly (The Sun) agreed personal terms with the French superstar after his Atleti team suffered a 3-0 loss against Real Madrid in the first leg of the semi-final, which effectively ended the club’s hopes of reaching a third final in the last four years. There is a consensus that manager Diego Simeone has taken the club as far as he could. Griezmann has been contemplating the possibility of pursuing a new challenge, and United’s interest has come at the right time.
The Sun suggests that Griezmann has agreed a whopping £280,000 per week contract, thus making him one of the best-paid players in the world, while United will also meet his buyout clause of £89 million in order to facilitate the transfer. The 26-year-old is expected to sign a five-year contract, which will put the entire outlay at a staggering £170 million. It may not be the last extravagant signing from United, as the club are also reportedly keen on Torino forward Andrea Belotti, who could cost a slightly lesser sum
The new contract would enable Griezmann to earn a whopping £60,000 per week more than his friend and international teammate Paul Pogba. The French midfielder joined the club in an £89 million deal last summer.
Manchester United have decided to go ahead with the transfer for Griezmann even though the player’s form has dropped substantially in the last few weeks. Griezmann has scored 16 league goals this season, putting him at a distance compared to Lionel Messi, who has 33 league goals. Furthermore, the 26-year-old has been able to score only three goals in his last 10 appearances. United are clearly looking at the long-term solution, and a player like Griezmann would be able to offer top-level football for more than five years at the least.
Growing concerns over the future of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney seems to have put United in a difficult position, and the club are keen on completing most of the summer transfer business in the next couple of weeks.
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