Griezmann: I won't go to Real Madrid

There may be rumours continuing to fly around as to Antoine Griezmann's future, but the player himself is clear that Real Madrid won't be his next destination. The Atletico Madrid midfielder even suggested that there was a pact between the two clubs which meant that neither would sign players from their near neighbours. "I am feeling great at Atletico," Griezmann said in an interview with Telefoot. "It's true that I would like to win titles .... but I couldn't go to Real Madrid because of the rivalry. "There's also a pact between the clubs." Asked if he would therefore end up at Paris Saint-Germain for example, Griezmann was equally as forthright. "PSG? They're an interesting club, but I don't like Ligue 1," he continued. "I prefer LaLiga and the Premier League, but my goal is not to leave Atletico immediately." As one of the contenders for the Ballon d'Or, the Frenchman was asked whether he thought he would win the accolade. "It's a goal for me but Cristiano Ronaldo has just won the Champions League and the European Championship so he deserves it," he said. "Lionel Messi is also there and will continue to score goals like every year, so it seems that they will both be difficult for me to overcome."

In reference to Ronaldo, the Atletico man was asked to explain why he had allegedly told the Portuguese that he hated him during the Madrid derby. "I just congratulated him on his season," was Griezmann's tongue-in-cheek reply. Antoine Griezmann had to reassure Atletico supporters that he'd be staying at the club, and in a new interview with GQ he went into detail over how remaining at Atletico would still allow him to reach new heights. Diego Simeone may have played a major role in his decision to stay, as the striker has often mentioned how important a figure he is in his career. "I don't need to leave Atletico to reach the highest level," Griezmann said. "I called Diego Simeone and when he told me he was staying, I decided to stay too. "I have a lot of respect for Simeone and really trust him." In his eyes, Griezmann is not yet a star, as he'll need more titles under his belt to justify the tag. "I don't know if I can be considered a star yet," the Frenchman said. "I know I can become one at Atletico Madrid."