Manchester United opinion: Red Devils must go for Antoine Griezmann
According to the Mirror, Atletico Madrid’s World Cup-winning hitman Antoine Griezmann is set to leave the club in the summer. The Frenchman signed a contract extension at the Wanda Metropolitano just 8 months ago but has changed his mind now.
Griezmann’s main reason for leaving Atletico is the club’s failure in the Champions League this season. Diego Simeone’s side crashed out in the round of 16 after their 2-0 first-leg lead was brushed aside by Cristiano Ronaldo’s hattrick for Juventus.
His decision has put Premier League giants Manchester United on red alert but the Red Devils will be rivalled by their Champions League quarterfinal opponents Barcelona for the 27-year-old’s signature.
Griezmann’s goalscoring prowess cannot be questioned, with the Frenchman hitting double figures in each of his last 8 seasons in the La Liga.
A versatile forward who is most effective with a target man next to him, Griezmann would be a perfect fit at Manchester United and would thrive alongside Romelu Lukaku.
Griezmann has played as a lone striker too at Atletico and is just as effective with his brilliant runs and immaculate finishing ability.
The Frenchman started each of France’s 7 games in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and scored 4 goals, including one in the final to help the Les Blues lift their first World Cup since 1998.
Despite 3 of his goals coming from the spot, Griezmann was a constant threat throughout the tournament and was one of the biggest reasons why France won the World Cup.
Griezmann’s ability to play anywhere across the front-line would prove to be an outstanding asset for the Red Devils and will open up a ton of different possibilities at Old Trafford. Alexis Sanchez’s move from Arsenal last January has turned out to be a massive flop.
The Chilean has scored just 5 goals for the Red Devils since his move to Old Trafford and has failed to replicate the form he showed at Arsenal. Griezmann would be a fantastic replacement for Sanchez if the Red Devils can offload him and his enormous wages in the summer.
United will need to free up wages one way or another to accommodate Griezmann, with the Frenchman currently on a deal where he earns a whopping €23million-a-season. That comes down to around €440,000-a-week, a similar number to what Alexis Sanchez currently earns.
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Conclusion
Antoine Griezmann would be the big money signing that Manchester United need to bring back glory days to Old Trafford. The 27-year-old will bring a winning mentality to the United squad and his brilliant relationship with Paul Pogba will help him settle down easily at the club.