Antoine Griezmann was close to leaving Atletico Madrid (Picture: Getty)

Antoine Griezmann would have left Atletico Madrid this summer if not for their transfer ban, according to the Manchester United target’s former agent Eric Olhats.

The France international was a top target for the Red Devils for much of the build-up to the summer transfer window, before he ultimately ended up signing a new deal at the Vicente Calderon.

United ended up signing Romelu Lukaku from Everton instead, though it has been claimed they still hold some interest in signing Griezmann next summer.

Olhats, who represented him until they parted ways earlier this summer, says the transfer ban is the only reason he ended up staying in Madrid.

Griezmann, 26, was strongly linked with United until Atletico’s transfer ban (Picture: Getty)

Griezmann has enjoyed his time in the Spanish capital and is widely thought to have been keen not to leave his club in a situation whereby they could not sign a replacement for him up front.

‘Griezmann didn’t feel able to leave Atletico,’ Olhats was quoted in the Independent.

‘He’s been integral to them and has shown his commitment to the club at a time when they couldn’t sign players.

Griezmann could still be on the move next summer (Picture: Getty)

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‘Without the Fifa sanctions he would have gone.’

United won’t be too bothered about missing out on the 26-year-old now, with Lukaku in fine goalscoring form since his £75m move, though they have continued to be linked with attacking players.

Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic has been one of their main targets, but Griezmann is another who could play out wide if needed, should United revisit their interest in him next year.

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