Antoine Griezmann Rejected PSG To Stay At Atletico Madrid, Agent Says

Antoine Griezmann’s agent has revealed that the French forward considered offers from Paris Saint-Germain and other clubs before deciding to stay at Atletico Madrid.

Antoine Griezmann Rejected PSG To Stay At Atletico Madrid, Agent Says

Griezmann, 25, signed a new contract with the Spanish team last month that commits him until June 2021. The prolific young forward has helped Atletico reach the Champions League for the second time in three years.

He was heavily linked with a transfer away from Atletico ahead of UEFA Euro 2016, with Chelsea, Manchester United and PSG believed to be among his admirers.

Griezmann, who previously played for Real Sociedad, will surely have even more fans after being named player of the tournament at Euro 2016 and winning the Golden Boot– awarded to the top goalscorer with six goals for France, who fell to Portugal 1-0 in the final.

Speaking on French radio station RMC on Tuesday, Griezmann’s advisor Eric Olhats confirmed that he had been in contact with PSG sporting director Olivier Letang in recent months.

“There were discussions with Olivier Letang,” Olhats said. “There was interest from Paris. We listened because it is all the same a club with objectives and resources.

“After numerous discussions, and drawing a parallel a little bit with other offers, we opted for continuity.”

Olhats did not rule out Griezmann signing with PSG before the end of his career, but also emphasized that they were not the only team who was interested.

“There were approaches,” he said. “It’s 100 percent certain that he’ll be at Atletico Madrid next season.

“Would it have been wise for him to leave for a club with a bigger scope to win trophies? Barcelona and Real Madrid don’t need anyone in attcack at the moment.

“Atletico give the impression of a struggle, but I think they’re equipped to win trophies.”

Griezmann signed from Real Sociedad in the summer of 2014, shortly after then-La Liga champions Atletico had lost the Champions League final to Real Madrid in Lisbon and top forward Diego Costa had left for Chelsea.

Since then he has scored 44 league goals for Diego Simeone’s team, and also scored a penalty in the shootout in last month’s Champions League final, which Atletico once again lost to their local rivals, Real Madrid.

“On a personal level, I would like to improve my goal scoring, minutes played, matches played, assists… my goal is always to improve upon what I have done the season before,” Griezmann told Atletico’s official website. “On a team level, we would also like to improve upon last season.”

PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 10: Antoine Griezmann of France in action during the UEFA EURO 2016 Final match between Portugal and France at Stade de France on July 10, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena