Antoine Griezmann ‘asks’ Barcelona to pay £87m Atletico Madrid release clause

ANTOINE GRIEZMANN is so desperate for a move to Barcelona he has “asked” the club to pay his £87million release clause, according to reports.

The Atletico Madrid star is thought to be closing in on a move to their league rivals after reportedly agreeing personal terms.

Now he just needs the two clubs to come to an agreement before he can make the switch to the Nou Camp.

Griezmann remains is in the middle of a tug-of-war with Barca and Manchester United but would rather stay in La Liga.

The Catalan giants have reportedly cooled their interest in the 26-year-old following his poor start to the season.

After 16 league goals last season he has just four in his first 11 starts this campaign and Barca are thought to be stumbling over his price-tag.

Griezmann wants reassurances that Barca will be interested come January or he could push through a move to Man United.

The France international doesn’t want a repeat of the transfer window in 2013 when he was on the brink of joining Arsenal before they pulled out of the deal in the final hours.

The forward revealed that he was told to “put all offers aside” and sign for the Gunners when he was still a Real Sociedad player.

In his book, he writes: “I waited, I waited, and I kept waiting … when there was no news, Eric (his agent) called Grimandi (Arsenal’s scout), who said that the manager was still interested in me [and] to keep waiting.

“Finally a few hours before the market closed, he let us know Arsenal would not make a move. I don’t like to be told something and for it not to happen.

“So when Eric told me later that the London club were interested again I told him: ‘Forget it, after the blow they gave us.’”