Diego Simeone Says Antoine Griezmann Could Leave Atletico Madrid This Summer

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has admitted Antoine Griezmann could be sold this summer after being linked with a transfer to Manchester United.

Speaking to AS (h/t Adriana Garcia of ESPN), Simeone conceded he could soon lose his star player.

"Yes, because there is a release clause and there are no guarantees," he said. "From here on in, I don't know what can happen."

According to Garcia, the attacker signed a contact extension to remain with Atleti last summer, but Simeone has said he will not stand in the way of the player's ambitions.

Simeone explained he has never demanded top players stay under his command, per AS:

"

I spoke to him in the summer holidays, we spoke a lot and he stayed. He told me that he would stay if I stayed. He then spoke to his agents to sign the [contract] documents.

[...]

Griezmann would never allow me to demand of him to stay. I didn't do it with [Diego] Costa and with [Radamel] Falcao. The players that have given me their lives, I obviously accompany them in the decisions that they take. What is clear is that as long as [Griezmann] stays, the team and the club will continue to grow.

"

Griezmann hit 32 goals last season in all competitions as he rose to prominence as one of Europe's top talents, per Garcia.

United have been consistently linked with a huge move for the striker as they continue their rebuild in earnest under coach Jose Mourinho, per Neil Custis of The Sun. The Red Devils are ready to make the France international their highest-earning player in the team's history in order to tempt him to the Premier League.