Griezmann snubs Barcelona

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Antoine Griezmann has rebuffed Barcelona’s advances and announced he will remain at Atletico Madrid next season.

The 27-year-old France star ended months of speculation by confirming on Thursday that he will stay with the club he joined from Real Sociedad in 2014.

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Griezmann looked likely to be swayed by ongoing interest from Barca, with the La Liga champions’ president Josep Maria Bartomeu in May revealing he had spoken with the player’s agent.

Lionel Messi also voiced public support for the move, but the two-goal hero of Atleti’s Europa League final win over Marseille insists he is going nowhere.

‘I have decided to stay,’ said Griezmann in a long-winded documentary on Movistar.

‘They are doing everything they can to keep Atletico growing and so that they can play the Champions League final, hopefully at home [in 2019].

‘They are making an effort to bring top players. This is going to make a difference.’

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He added: ‘I feel there are things to do with Atletico.

‘If they [Atleti] buy good players we can win the Champions League here and enter the history of the club. Here, I would make history. At Barcelona, I would just be one more.

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‘The decision I make is taken with 100% certainty, as I did at Real Sociedad or when I came here. I will not regret it.’

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Dean Workman