Report: Griezmann tells Atletico he wants out, opening door for United

Antoine Griezmann appears to have made up his mind.

The French striker informed the Atletico Madrid hierarchy that he would like to leave the club this summer, according to Miguel Delaney and Ed Malyon of the Independent.

Griezmann, 26, has long been linked with a move to Manchester United, and his apparent decision to leave the Spanish capital paves the way for the Red Devils to swoop in and trigger his reported €100-million release clause.

The wavy-haired attacker, who found the net 16 times in La Liga this season, has been playing a game of chicken with United this summer, offering hints that he wants to join the Premier League giant one day before suggesting he would prefer to remain in Spain the next.

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This, though, would prove his strongest statement yet.

It also coincides with news that Atletico will learn this week if its transfer ban will be shortened on appeal; a decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will be announced Thursday, and a positive ruling could see the Rojiblancos move quickly to offset a potential Griezmann sale by snapping up his compatriot Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon.

A quick resolution to the ongoing saga is in the best interest of United, too.

Delaney and Malyon note that United wants to lock up the deal before the end of June, in order to avoid a protracted rigmarole like the one endured last summer before Paul Pogba eventually moved from Juventus.