Atleti sign pace ace Griezmann for €30m

Andy West 06:15 29/07/2014
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  • Fast feet: Griezmann made more than 200 appearances for Real Sociedad.

    Diego Simeone believes Anto­ine Griezmann will give Atletico Madrid a much-needed injection of speed after the French forward’s transfer from Real Sociedad was confirmed.

    The deal for the 23-year-old, who appeared in all five of France’s fix­tures in the World Cup, had been widely anticipated and was com­pleted yesterday morning when Atletico confirmed their intention to meet his ¤30 million (Dh148m) buyout clause.

    Following their league triumph last season, Simeone has seen top scorer Diego Costa, veteran striker David Villa, left-back Felipe Luis and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois all leave the club this summer, and the Argentine believes Greizmann helps fill some of that void.

    “He will give us the velocity in attack which we need after the de­partures we’ve had this summer,” said Simeone. “We have lost fast players like Adrian, Diego Costa and David Villa, and others who are mentally quick like Diego Ribas and Jose Sosa.”

    Simeone reiterated that Griez­mann’s signature was pursued because of his specific attributes, adding: “He is a player who can give us solutions and offers characteris­tics that the team doesn’t currently have. We are trying to compensate for the players who have left in the time that is available and within the financial capabilities of the club.”

    Griezmann was signed as a schoolboy by Sociedad nine years ago after impressing on trial. He has risen through the ranks at San Sebastian to become one of the best wide forwards in La Liga.

    Last season he scored 20 goals in 49 games, earning a call-up for the France squad in February.

    With Simeone currently lead­ing his squad through their pre-season tour in California, the deal for Griezmann was negotiated and completed by the club’s backroom staff and the Argentine boss was quick to praise their direction.

    “[Director of football Jose Luis] Caminero and [technical director Andrea] Berta have been working hard day after day to achieve what we spoke about 40 days ago, when I left for the summer,” he said.

    Atletico are also very close to clinching another signing with the arrival of Argentine international full-back Cristian Ansaldi from Zenit St Petersburg.

    Ansaldi has been tracked by Atletico for a number of months and can play on either flank, pro­viding cover and competition for Spain international Juanfran and new signing Guilherme Siqueira, who joined earlier in the summer from Granada.

    Ansaldi’s arrival is also likely to herald the departure of highly-rated Spanish right-back Javier Manquillo, who has been heavily linked with Arsenal and Liverpool in the last few weeks, with the Reds understood to be in pole position to secure the 20-year-old’s signature. 

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