#3 Antoine Griezmann to Real Madrid
Antoine Griezmann’s stock has been on the rise in recent years and he enhanced it further at last year’s Euros where he was the top scorer as well as the Player of the Tournament in France’s dream run into the finals. He is the main man at Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid and at 26 years of age, he is set to move for a new challenge this summer or the next.
The forward has scored 23 goals so far this season before the Champions League quarterfinal clash with English champions Leicester City and is known for his versatility to play across the front line and an uncanny eye for goal. Although contracted with Atleti till 2021, rumours are picking up that he is pitching for a move this summer with Manchester United being one of the clubs who are highly linked.
Also Read: 5 replacements for Antoine Griezmann at Atletico Madrid
However, there is a good chance that city rivals Real Madrid could put in a surprise bid to match the release clause of €100 million, forcing Atleti to sell. Karim Benzema is reaching the end of his time at Real Madrid and Alvaro Morata is yet to establish himself in the striker role. Although AS Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe has been linked, he is still a young prospect, making Griezmann the right player for the club.
If this move takes place though, there will be vitriol from the fans for moving to a rival both city-wise and competition-wise. Knowing how passionate Simeone and the fans are about the club, it will be shocking if Real Madrid president Florentino Perez announces Griezmann as the next Galactico. The transfer will be the fuel for major discussions as the last transfer between the clubs happened in 2006 when Jose Manuel Jurado, who currently plays for RCD Espanyol, joined Atleti from Real.
Of all the clubs Griezmann could go to, Real Madrid would be a dream for both the player and the footballing world, which is bound to create major news everywhere.
