Griezmann signs new deal with Atletico after rejecting Barca

Published at 03:48 pm June 19th, 2018
Last updated at 03:49 pm June 19th, 2018

Atletico Madrid made a triple swoop at France's World Cup training base on Monday, announcing new contracts for talismanic striker Antoine Griezmann and defender Lucas Hernandez as well as officially signing midfielder Thomas Lemar from AS Monaco.

The Liga side said in a statement that all three contracts were signed in the presence of Atletico's chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin, who had travelled to the France team's base in the Russian town of Istria.

France striker Griezmann had revealed last Thursday on Spanish television in a documentary called 'The Decision' that he had rejected a move to Spanish champions Barcelona to stay at Atletico.

Defender Hernandez, meanwhile, extended his contract until 2024, and winger Lemar signed a deal to join Atletico which they said was subject to him passing a medical and their prelmininary deal with AS Monaco being formalised.

BREAKING: @AntoGriezmann signs contract extension at @Atleti until 2023. #SSN pic.twitter.com/E4cb6MdGi7
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 18, 2018

According to reports in the Spanish media, the deal for Lemar is worth more than 70 million euros ($81.34 million), making him the most expensive player in Atletico's history.

"The contracts were signed in the training camp of the France national team following the guidelines of the people in charge of the French Football Association and the France coach Didier Deschamps," added the statement.

Antoine Griezmann ✅
Thomas Lemar ✅
Lucas Hernandez ✅

Atletico Madrid have been busy handing out contracts 👉 https://t.co/iE3BRXwxIP pic.twitter.com/8NFPIHYLKR
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 19, 2018

Quite the trifecta of news for @Atleti coming from France camp:

-Antoine Griezmann has signed a contract renewal through 2023
-Lucas Hernandez has signed a contract renewal through 2024
-Thomas Lemar has agreed terms on a contract, nearing a move from Monaco pic.twitter.com/T6Jy3LxWLk
— Goal (@goal) June 18, 2018

Griezmann, 27, joined Atletico in July 2014 from Real Sociedad and has finished top scorer with the Madrid side in each season he has been at the club.

He scored twice in their 3-0 win in the Europa League final over Olympique de Marseille last month.

Defender Hernandez, whose brother Theo signed for Atletico's arch rivals Real Madrid last year, came through the club's youth academy and made his debut in 2014.