Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann has scored just two goals in nine La Liga games this season.
And while he has looked well below his goal-scoring best, we ask: Should Atletico sell Griezmann in the January transfer window?
Let us know what you think as two of our writers debate on the topic.
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The January sales should hold no fear for an Atletico Madrid liberated from a transfer ban and emboldened by their proven track record of productively cashing-in on prized assets.
Whether racked with regret caused by loyally snubbing the advances of Manchester United in the summer once FIFA punished the Rojiblancos or simply suffering an uncharacteristic slump, Antoine Griezmann’s crown has slipped badly this term.
All available evidence points to a pertinent time for a parting of the ways. The France forward’s talent remains unquestioned, yet 2017/18 has been a disaster for him.
This reached its nadir at the weekend when a seventh-consecutive scoreless match, an unwelcome record for him at Atleti, coincided with being hooked by coach Diego Simeone prior to Thomas Partey’s injury-time winner at Deportivo La Coruna.
No longer the resident saviour, this superfluous standing can be applied to the upcoming window. All the pieces are in place for a lucrative exit.
The return of the pugnacious Diego Costa from his exile at Chelsea and acquisition of Spain winger Vitolo, currently parked at Las Palmas, ensures there will be no scramble to secure a suitable replacement – not that such a scenario should hold any fear for Atleti.
A revolving door up front has operated with barely a stumble during the past decade. Homegrown icon Fernando Torres departed for Liverpool in 2007 and Diego Forlan came in, supplemented by a growing Sergio Aguero.
Once the enormous offers for Kun could no longer be swatted away, Radamel Falcao was plucked from Porto and the rest is history.
All the way prior to El Tigre’s sale to Monaco in 2013, Costa was preparing to blossom. This lineage continued with Griezmann replacing Costa, Jackson Martinez the only misstep in that chain.
Atleti can do nothing if their superstar’s €100 million (Dh426.8m) release clause is met. Yet they would be wise not to pull on his heartstrings this time.
Antoine Griezmann isn’t scoring goals, his brother’s social media activity is causing problems for him and the vultures are circling. He is developing into Diego Simeone’s €100m problem.
However, selling him too willingly in January would be a knee-jerk reaction to a short-term problem which Los Rojiblancos have all season to fix.
Firstly, in a business sense, allowing him to leave in two months could mean they sell themselves short. Griezmann will fetch a club-record fee and one of Manchester United, City, Paris Saint-Germain or maybe even Bayern Munich (a tired Robert Lewandowski will surely be happy) and Juventus will pay his release clause.
The France international’s pace, guile and goalscoring ability could theoretically turn challengers in contenders and also-rans into front-runners.
With so many elite clubs interested, someone will almost certainly be willing to pay above his clause – the €100m then merely becomes a starting price for an auction.
Should he score 10-15 goals down the home stretch and enjoy a strong World Cup with Les Bleus, how much is he worth then?
Not only will goals in Russia inflate figures, his public persona will also be enhanced, boosting commercial earning potential for player and club. Added to the fact that, for all the likely suitors, clubs are willing and have more time to negotiate considerable fees over the course of a summer window.
Then, in a football sense, Atletico and Simeone should be confident they can still draw Griezmann’s best form out of him between now and May.
His brother may be slamming Simeone’s tactics and the Groundhog Daynature of their performances, but this is November, Simeone builds for the latter third of a campaign.
They are still unbeaten in La Liga and with Madrid disjointed and Barcelona far-fromperfect, despite their record, should have aspirations for the title.
Never mind Angel Correa, Diego Costa, Vitolo, Luciano Vietto or Fernando Torres, Griezmann will be needed. Selling him now is a needless risk that carries more negatives in the short-term, than positives.
