Simeone will sanction Griezmann sale
MADRID: Diego Simeone has assured striker Antoine Griezmann that he will eventually be allowed to leave Atletico Madrid.
Griezmann was continuously linked with a switch to Manchester United and Barcelona across the summer but stayed in Spain, where he has scored seven goals in 18 matches so far this season.
Atletico have had a poor start to the season by their standards — they are third in La Liga but dropped out of the Champions League and into the Europa League after finishing third in a group containing Chelsea and Roma.
It has led to speculation that France international Griezmann will again look to seal an exit from Atletico and Simeone accepts he will eventually have to see the striker leave.
“Of course Griezmann will be able to leave at some point, the same way (Diego) Costa and Arda Turan were allowed to leave,” he told L’Equipe.
“I love my players a lot and I love to see them grow. I am not ungrateful.
“If a player comes to me and says, ‘Coach, I have a once in a lifetime chance to play for a certain team, I want to leave’. If he did all he could for me as Griezmann does, I’ll say it’s no problem. I know that he needs to grow.
“Of course Griezmann will be able to leave at some point, the same way Costa and Arda Turan were allowed to leave.” Daily Mail