Atletico Madrid are raising Antoine Griezmann’s release clause and his wages to guard against interest from Europe’s powerhouses.
AS say the France international’s contract, which runs until 2020, will be improved, his transfer clause going from €80m to €100m and his wages increasing in kind.
Griezmann has told the club that he is happy where he is, however, and his new deal includes an agreement he won’t consider offers from elsewhere for two years.
Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Chelsea are all named as suitors for the former Real Sociedad forward, who turns 25 in March.
His relatively young age and prolific Atletico form have attracted the attention of some of the continent’s richest clubs, but Atletico are doing what they can to fend off their advances and keep Griezmann content.
AS note that Atletico and Madrid have in recent years established a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ to not poach each other’s players, but add that it could easily change.
The desire is, however, to improve Atletico’s standing to compete with Europe’s biggest and richest, with the future stadium move a part of the plan, but the club is keenly aware of the need to have a team to match the off-field ambitions.
Griezmann is part of that, and the decision to raise his escape clause and wages is a sign Atletico want to keep their best players, AS continues.
