United handed further boost in Griezmann pursuit

If Manchester United needed any further encouragement in their pursuit of Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann then the Frenchman provided it– categorically admitting he wants to leave the La Liga club this summer.

Griezmann sent shockwaves around Europe when he said the chances of him moving to Old Trafford were currently 60% on Monday, but he has now gone a step further and risked burning bridges with Atletico fans for good.

United boss Jose Mourinho has reportedly been pursuing the striker all season, and is apparently ready to trigger the £85m release clause in his contract.

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Atletico would be powerless to stop him if they did that, but Griezmann suggested he is open to a move further afield than just Manchester – with clubs and in China and USA also on his radar.

“Today, if I have to move it will be no problem,” he said. “It may be England because that is fashionable, Germany, China or the United States. I’m ready to go.

“We finished third in La Liga. It was the objective of the club but we as players, we want more. I want to win titles.

“I’ve come to a point where playing well and scoring goals is not enough anymore. That’s it. Winning titles is what I will look for this summer when deciding on my future.

“With Atletico [we] have had a final and a semi-final of the Champions League, we’re close, but we lack something.”