Antoine Griezmann edges closer to stunning Barcelona transfer as Catalan club’s president meets with his family in bitter blow to Manchester United’s hopes of landing striker
Josep Maria Bartomeu reportedly dined with Griezmann's family to finalise a deal to bring the French striker to the Nou Camp from Atletico Madrid
ANTOINE GRIEZMANN has moved a step closer to sealing a stunning transfer to Barcelona after the Catalan club's president reportedly met with the striker's family.
The Atletico Madrid man has been a solid target for Barca for a number of months, especially after Neymar sealed his £198million world-record transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.
And now Mundo Deportivo is reporting that Barcelona chief Josip Maria Bartomeu met with Griezmann's family in a restaurant in a bid to finalise details for the transfer.
The Spanish newspaper pointed out how Griezmann's sister "manages his affairs", so a prospective move could be closer than we all thought.
The fee should be around £88million for the 26-year-old who's get-out clause halves this summer on his contract that runs until 2022.
Barcelona have moved ahead of the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool in the race to snare Griezmann as a result of the positive relations between the two Spanish clubs.
SunSport already reported on Friday how Atletico boss Diego Simeone has given up the fight to convince his talisman to stay at the club.
Speaking to French newspaper L'Equipe Simeone said: "Of course Griezmann will be able to leave at some point, the same way (Diego) Costa and Arda Turan were allowed to leave.
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"I love my players a lot and I love to see them grow. I am not ungrateful.
"If a player comes to me and says: 'coach, I have a once in a lifetime chance to play for a certain team, I want to leave'.
The Catalan giants are still in the market for a big-money forward to replace Neymar and have plenty of cash to burn.
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"If he did all he could for me as Griezmann does, I'll say it's no problem. I know that he needs to grow.
"Of course Griezmann will be able to leave at some point, the same way Costa and Arda Turan were allowed to leave."
