Antoine Griezmann extends his contract with Atlético Madrid

Today in not-entirely-unexpected news, Antoine Griezmann has extended his contract with Atlético Madrid. His new deal stretches out until 2022, assuming the world hasn’t ended before then. Presumably he’s very happy.

From a United perspective, this possibly counts as a TRANSFER BLOW. Maybe even a SNUB, if you’re feeling extravagant. But as has been reported for a while now, the Frenchman has decided that abandoning Atléti while they’re transfer-banned would not be the honorable thing to do, and we can respect that. So, this is a late transfer saga. It has ceased to be. Bereft of life, it rests in peace.

For this summer, at any rate.

Because one thing hasn’t changed, apparently, and that’s his release clause. In the curious dance that is the modern transfer market, this amounts to something like a come-and-get-me-but-not-for-the-moment plea; a delayed wink; a come-hither-but-not-too-quickly look. A move next summer still looks very possible, whether to United or somewhere else. And a reprise of all the links, and sourciness looks virtually guaranteed.

This rumour’s not dead. It’s just resting.