In true Atletico Madrid style, a fleeting feeling of optimism was not allowed to last long.

No sooner had Diego Simeone publicly declared his intention to remain come what may next season in an emotional farewell to the Vicente Calderon on Sunday, Antoine Griezmann had raised eyebrows, discussing a potential move to Manchester United.

When Simeone declared he was staying because "this club has a future, and the future is all of us," he was not just encouraging the Atletico fans to embrace a move across the city to the Wanda Metropolitano, but sending a message to the club's star players.

Griezmann is at the top of that list. Atletico have had another season of so near but yet so far, finishing third behind Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga and falling to Spanish football's two behemoths in the semifinals of the Champions League and Copa del Rey, too. However, with Fernando Torres and Kevin Gameiro misfiring around him, it doesn't bear thinking about where Atleti would have been without Griezmann's 26 goals, 12 assists and all-around displays this season.

Griezmann finished third behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the Ballon d'Or in 2016, and in the current market, Atletico cannot replace a talent of that calibre on their budget.

The French international's statement on irreverent TV show "Quotidien" back in his homeland that there was a "six out of 10 chance" of him joining United made headlines across Europe. The fact those words struck fear into Los Rojiblancos' faithful cannot be danced around.

However, neither can the less-reported fact that he followed that up by saying there is a seven out of 10 chance he stays at Atletico and a zero out of 10 possibility he joins compatriot Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid.

The Real Madrid comments came as a big relief to Atletico fans. Losing Griezmann at a time of transition with the new stadium and a transfer ban still looming this summer -- they're appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) -- would be bad enough. Losing him to their deadly cross-city rivals, potentially following in the footsteps of Theo Hernandez, is unthinkable.

More worrying for Atletico fans were Griezmann's comments when promoting his autobiography on Tuesday: "We finished third, that was the objective of the club, but the players want more.

"I want to win titles. I've come to a point where playing a good game and scoring goals is not enough anymore. Winning titles is what I will look for when deciding my future."

It could be an elaborate ploy to heap pressure on the Atletico board should they be free to sign players this summer. Fans and manager alike will be praying that is the case.

"We're close, but missing something," Griezmann added. "We'll see what the club do. It will depend on transfers. I do not know if they understand, but everyone knows that I love football and want to win trophies. To experience those strong emotions is what I want."

The fans have seen this film before. Torres (before he left for Liverpool in 2007), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City, 2011), Radamel Falcao (Monaco, 2013) and Diego Costa (Chelsea, 2014) all exited to further their careers having hit the glass ceiling at Atletico.

A decision from CAS, who reduced Real Madrid's similar ban from two transfer windows to one back in December, is expected before the end of the month. In the meantime, Atletico haven't been acting like a club expecting to be banned for transfers over the next few months. They have lined up deals for Malaga forward Sandro Ramirez and Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette. Los Rojiblancos are also reportedly willing to pay Sevilla winger Vitolo's €40 million buyout clause at the behest of Simeone.

Add those three to an attack containing Griezmann and Atletico might be able to run Barca and Madrid close on all fronts next season. It is a mouth-watering prospect.

Everyone at the club knows Griezmann will move on eventually, however the hope is he stays at least one more season. The fact he is the poster boy for all the material on the club's new stadium is no coincidence. It is a ploy by the club to get him to stay with Simeone until 2018 and right now, the belief among the Calderon faithful is that Griezmann will hang around for another season, securing a more stable first campaign in the new stadium.

After that, he can go on his own terms with Los Colchoneros receiving a world record fee in the process. Fans are crossing their fingers that is the way it plays out because Atleti cannot afford to lose him this summer.

Source:
courtesy of ESPNFC

by JOSEPH WALKER

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