Long term Chelsea target Antoine Griezmann has revealed that he wants to stay with his present club Atletico Madrid and talks are underway over a new deal.
The 25-year-old French winger scored his 22nd goal on Saturday as Atletico beat Celta Vigo 2-0 to finish third in the table, three points behind La Liga champions Barcelona.
Griezmann has a contract at the club till 2020, but there is always a constant speculation that heavyweight European clubs may prise him away from Calderon.
It won’t be easy, though, as Atletico are planning to provide him with an improved contract which would his release clause bumping up to €100 million as part of a policy of “protecting the club’s assets,” according to president Enrique Cerezo.
According to reports from the Evening Standard, Premier League giants Chelsea have been his keen admirer, but without the Champions League football to offer, it is almost impossible for the Blues to lure him away from Atletico.
In fact, the French international has admitted that he would politely turn down an offer from Zinedine Zidane if the Real Madrid boss makes a formal approach for his services in the summer.
“I feel good at Atletico,” Griezmann told French TV Show Canal Football Club. “First of all he’d have to call. Then I’d respond because he’s a great player and a great person all the same.
“But I feel good at Atletico. I’m in the process of seeing about renewing my contract and we’re on the right track. So I hope we can finish it.”
Griezmann would be disappointed with the way Atletico’s title challenge faded away in the penultimate round of La Liga, but he still has the Champions League final to look forward to on May 28.
Atletico will face Real Madrid in the Champions League final in Milan’s San Siro stadium, and Griezmann will be hoping to continue his great goal scoring form. He scored twice in the quarterfinal victory over Barcelona and netted a crucial away goal against Bayern Munich in the semi-final as well.
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