Diego Simeone has admitted Antoine Griezmann could leave Atletico Madrid this summer and he would not stand in his way.
The 26-year-old French forward has a €100m release clause at Vicente Calderon and is understood to be Manchester United’s primary transfer target this summer, according to reports across England and Spain.
"Could Griezmann leave this summer? Yes because there is a release clause and there are no guarantees. From here on in, I don't know what can happen,” Simeone told AS.
"I spoke to him in the summer holidays, we spoke a lot and he stayed – he told me that he would stay if I stayed. He then spoke to his agents to sign the [contract] documents.
"Griezmann would never allow me to demand of him to stay, I didn't do it with [Diego] Costa or with [Radamel] Falcao.
“The players that have given me their lives, I obviously accompany them in the decisions that they take. What is clear is that as long as he [Griezmann] stays, the team and the club will continue to grow.
"Great football players want to compete in the Champions League and fight until the end and Griezmann is a great football player.
"He is the player that most quickly interprets the team's attacking options. You give him an order and he follows it immediately. He doesn't lose time. He is incredible.
“He is very intelligent. More than all that he gives to the team, he reads well where we have to attack in a game."