Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo says Antoine Griezmann is one of three or four top players in Europe and will continue with the Spanish club this season.
Antoine Griezmann marked his return to Atletico from Barcelona last August with his first loan option after a two-year stint at Camp Nou.
He has struggled to regain his form and Atleti, however, having scored just eight goals in 35 appearances in all competitions.
The Frenchman is indeed in the running for 14 games without a net in LaLiga, part of his longest goal drought in the tournament.
Griezmann’s 13 straight goals in 2021-22 are the fourth Atletico Madrid player, on the other hand, behind Luis Suarez, Joao Felix (both 15 years old), and Angel Correa (18).
But contrary to Spanish media suggestions that Atletico Madrid are reluctant to buy the 31-year-old, Cerezo has made it clear that a deal is in place.
“Griezmann is our player. He has a contract with Atletico Madrid and will stay here at Atletico Madrid,” he said at the event on Friday, as reported by AS.
“In my opinion, Antoine Griezmann is one of three or four top players in Europe.”
Atletico Madrid last week announced that Suarez would leave Wanda Metropolitano at the end of the campaign.
They still have Alvaro Morata on their books, however, with a two-year Spanish international loan deal with Juventus that will expire after a Serie A clash with Fiorentina on Saturday.
Unlike Griezmann, Cerezo was not focused on Morata’s future in the Spanish capital.
“The truth is, I do not know what will happen to him,” he said. “He’s our player, but I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t know if Juve will keep him or not. We don’t know.”
Atleti have scored 42 goals in 37 LaLiga games this season, their worst record in a single campaign since 2011-12 when Diego Simeone took the reins in midfield.
Jan Oblak especially endured a tough campaign, though Cerezo rejected suggestions that the goalkeeper could move on to the next transfer window.
“There are always rumors about everything,” he said. “Jan is the goalkeeper for Atletico de Madrid, and he has a contract. He could renew it for another 10 years.”
