Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann would have left the club if they weren't under a transfer embargo, claims his former agent

• e-mail

Antoine Griezmann 'without a doubt' would have left Atletico Madrid this summer if the club were not under a transfer embargo, claims his former agent.

Griezmann was a transfer target for Manchester United at the start of the window, but said it would be a 'dirty move' to leave while Atletico are banned from signing players until January.

Eric Olhats, who represented Griezmann until September last year, says the striker's loyalty to the Spanish club was key to his decision to stay.

Antoine Griezmann would've left Atletico if not for transfer embargo, says his former agent

Olhats told France Football: 'Griezmann hasn't felt able to leave Atletico. It showed the integrity of his links with a club unable to sign players. Without that ban, he would have gone, without a doubt.'

Griezmann was also linked to Real Madrid but instead decided to extend his Atletico deal by another year. 

The 26-year-old was nominated for the Ballon D'Or in 2016, and has become regarded as one of the world's best players.

Striker Griezmann was a transfer target for Manchester United at the start of the summer

However Olhats feels Griezmann has become too obsessed with his media image since they ended their professional relationship.

He said: 'His omnipresence in the media has not helped him to relaunch himself on a sporting level.

'The balance between the search for performance and the desire to sell your image is very fragile. Unconsciously, you can choose the wrong side.'