Atletico Madrid have not given up hope of keeping Griezmann despite Man United rumours returning

Enrique Cerezo, the Atletico Madrid president, has confirmed that the club will defend “their interests” amid the on-running Antoine Griezmann transfer saga and insisted that the Frenchman “is not lost”.

“Everyone knows that we defend Atletico, it is a matter of respect. Here or outside Spain. It is a matter of respect”, said Cerezo during the traditional Christmas lunch offered by Atletico to the press.

Prior to his speech, Cerezo said: “No one is lost here. Griezmann is an Atletico player and that’s all.”

Earlier this week Atletico reported Barcelona over an illegal transfer approach for the forward.

The Catalans’ institutional director, Guillermo Amor, admitted this week that the club has already spoken to Griezmann’s family, something that Atletico did not know.

This lack of knowledge was confirmed by Cerezo, who said that Barcelona had not asked “for any permission” to talk to the player.

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Barcelona could face a sanction by Fifa if it is proved that they contacted Griezmann without Atletico’s knowledge.

Cerezo also criticised the Fifa transfer sanction that Atletico received last year which prevented prevented them from officially signing any players during last summer’s transfer window.

“Fifa’s sanction is unfair, it has hurt the club, but the team has kept the competitive level,” he said. “On 1 January we will already be able to sign players on and we will have Diego Costa and Vitolo, two first-level players that will increase the internal competence.”

Cerezo was also full of praise for Atletico’s new stadium, Wanda Metropolitano, which was opened in September. “It gives us the possibility of growing and meeting the requirements to hold the biggest events. The union between team and supporters is amazing and we remember the Calderon era.”