Griezmann drops Atletico hint

Antoine Griezmann has scored 83 goals in three years with Atletico Madrid

Antoine Griezmann has made an apparent pledge of allegiance to Atletico Madrid hours after Manchester United cooled their interest in a summer transfer.

Sources told Sky Sports News HQ on Thursday that Manchester United are now prioritising an out-and-out striker rather than a move for Griezmann, whose 83 Atletico goals have come from a variety of forward positions.

United’s change of approach emerged shortly after Atletico had an appeal against their transfer ban rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, a ruling which means they could not sign a replacement this summer if the France striker were sold.

Griezmann would still have a decision to make if another club agreed to trigger an £87m buyout clause in his Atletico deal, which runs until 2021.

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But he offered a hint at his thinking in a Twitter post on Thursday evening which read: “Now more than ever #Atleti #All together.”

The tweet was accompanied by a picture of him celebrating a Champions League goal against Leicester this season.

Griezmann recently revealed on French TV that his chances of a switch to Old Trafford were “six out of 10”, but he later dismissed reports that a deal with United was already done.

“All the rumours are unfounded,” he tweeted. “I’m still Colchonero. My direction will be established after discussion with my sporting advisor.”