Transfer Centre

Antoine Griezmann reveals transfer interest during summer market

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 06 September 2023

Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann says that there were "calls and contacts" to discuss his future during the summer transfer window.

Antoine Griezmann has revealed that there were "calls and contacts" to discuss his position at Atletico Madrid during the summer transfer window.

The 32-year-old is currently in his third spell at Atletico, the first of which came between 2014 and 2019, before he returned to the Red and Whites on loan from Barcelona in 2021.

Griezmann then secured a permanent return to the capital giants towards the end of last year, and he was in strong form for the club last term, scoring 16 goals and registering 19 assists in 48 appearances.

The France international is also off the mark in terms of goals for this season, registering in Atletico's standout 7-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano at the end of August.

Real Madrid's Eder Militao in action with Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann on January 26, 2023 © Reuters

Griezmann is now on 158 goals for Atletico, leaving him 15 away from the club's all-time scoring record, which is currently held by Luis Aragones.

The attacker was linked with a move away from Wanda Metropolitano over the summer, with Al-Nassr thought to have been interested in bringing him to Saudi Arabia.

Griezmann has said that there were "calls and contacts", but he never entertained the prospect of leaving the capital outfit during the transfer window.

"There were calls and contacts, I was focused on my club, I'm 15 goals away from the record for the club's all-time top scorer. It's as I told my sister: I'm not moving, I'm staying here," he told reporters while on international duty with France, as quoted by GFFN.

France's Antoine Griezmann celebrates scoring their first goal with Kingsley Coman on March 24, 2023 © Reuters

"I'm going to try and break the record, it's taken a while to reinstate myself in the eyes of the fans – it isn't the moment to leave."

Griezmann is currently with the France squad preparing for Thursday's Euro 2024 qualifier against the Republic of Ireland, in addition to next week's friendly with Germany.

France have won all four of their European Championship qualification matches, with a total of 12 points leaving them top of Group B, six points clear of second-placed Greece.

Griezmann, who is currently being linked with a move to the MLS next year, has not been in action since August 28 against Rayo, as Atletico's last game against Sevilla was postponed due to bad weather.