Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has confirmed that France superstar Antoine Griezmann will be allowed to leave the La Liga side.
The 26-year-old, who is contracted to Atletico until 2022, has been linked with a move away from Rojiblancos for months, and there are rumours that Manchester United and FC Barcelona are the favourites to land the forward.
Although the striker is still under contract, Simeone told members of the media that he would not stand in Griezmann’s way should he want to leave the club he has served so well.
"I love my players a lot, and I love to see them grow. I am not ungrateful," he told L'Equipe.
"If a player comes to me and says, 'Coach, I have a once in a lifetime chance to play for a certain team, I want to leave'. If he did all he could for me as Griezmann does, I'd say it's no problem. I know that he needs to grow.
"Of course Griezmann will be able to leave at some point, the same way Costa and Arda Turan were allowed to leave."
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The former Real Sociedad has made 18 appearances for Atletico this season, scoring seven goals and further assisting in five more.
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