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Griezmann will stay at Atletico Madrid: Leaving would be 'a dirty move'

Juan Medina / Reuters

Antoine Griezmann's future is in Spain.

Griezmann announced his decision to remain at Atletico Madrid in a conversation with "Telefoot" on Sunday, saying it would be a "dirty move" to leave Atleti after the Court of Arbitration partially upheld a transfer ban imposed on the Spanish club until January 2018.

The saga of Griezmann's future took an interesting turn when he appeared on "Quotidien," another French television programme, in May. Asked about the probability of a transfer to Manchester United, he replied: "Six." However, the Red Devils reportedly cooled their interest in him, as Zlatan Ibrahimovic's knee injury led to a change in strategy for the summer transfer window, prioritising a striker over a No. 10.

"The ruling of the CAS has come through," Griezmann said Sunday, as transcribed by the Press Association. "Atletico cannot recruit. With my sporting advisor, Eric Olhats, we decided to stay. It's a hard time for the club. It would be a dirty move to leave now. We talked to the leaders and we will be back for next season."

Griezmann, whose release clause is valued at €100 million (£87.5 million), published a tweet three days ago that read: "Now more than ever." Atleti was sanctioned for breaching FIFA regulations concerning the registration of minor players, and, although the CAS reduced the fine Thursday, Los Colchoneros remain banned from registering players for two transfer windows.

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