Griezmann will leave Atletico, says Simeone

Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone admitted on Friday that French forward Antoine Griezmann would likely leave the club in the near future. The 26-year-old was heavily linked with a move in the close season, but with Atletico under a transfer ban, signed a new contract to stay until 2022.

Diego Simeone has said he will have no problem letting Atletico's talismanic forward Antoine Griezmann walk away from the club in the future. pic.twitter.com/bkw5XAIfgN

— SuperSport (@SuperSportTV) December 15, 2017

"Of course Griezmann will be able to leave at some point, as Diego Costa, Diego Ribas and Arda Turan have gone," Simeone told French sports daily L'Equipe. "If one day he leaves Atletico and goes to a more offensive team, he'll be much better."

Will Antoine Griezmann be a better player once he leaves Atletico? Diego Simeone suggests so...https://t.co/S3A9jkQ71y pic.twitter.com/3TfauQrkPG

— Goal (@goal) December 14, 2017

The French striker has struggled to find his best form for Atletico this season - at one stage going eight games without a goal - but has scored four times in his last five matches. "My players, I love them a lot. I love them growing up, I'm not ungrateful," Argentinian Simeone said.

Antoine Griezmann can leave Atlético if right offer comes along, says Simeone https://t.co/j3guGFLkUe

— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) December 15, 2017

"If a player comes to me and says, 'coach, I have a chance of a lifetime and want to leave', and if he's left everything on the pitch for me like Griezmann, I'll say, 'no problem'." Spanish international Costa has since returned to Atletico from Chelsea and will be available to play when their transfer embargo is lifted in January, which could help fill the hole up front should Griezmann leave.