TRANSFER NEWS: I cannot say NO TO MESSI – Griezmann tells Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid striker, Antoine Griezmann has told the club’s manager Diego Simeone that he cannot say to Messi who requested he joins Barcelona.

This was made known by a Spanish journalist, Robert Gomez, few days after the striker announced that he will be leaving the club.

“Griezmann hinted at the directors of Atletico de Madrid that he has done it with a team,” Gomez was quoted by Express UK as saying.

“And it’s going to be Barca. They do not communicate now because now they would have to pay 200 million euros, but it’s going to be a long month and a half for the azulgrana

“The only thing that has transpired from the meeting between Griezmann, Gil Marin, Diego Simeone and Andrea Berta is that Griezmann literally said ‘I cannot tell Leo [Messi] no.

“So there was contact between Messi and the French.”

The French world cup winner announced on Tuesday that he would be leaving Atletico Madrid.

He said:

‘It’s been an incredible five years; Thank you very much for everything, I take you in the heart.’

“I wanted to tell the fans who have always given me a lot of love that I have taken the decision to leave, to see other things, to have other challenges”

“The truth is it has been difficult to take this route but it is what I feel I need and I would like to thank all of you for the love you have shown me during these five years.”