Antoine Griezmann move to Manchester United in doubt as CAS upheld Atletico Madrid transfer ban

The Court of Arbritation for Sport (CAS) had on Thursday morning upheld the transfer ban imposed on Atletico Madrid which have thereby seen their summer plans go up in smoke.

This decision will see Diego Simeone unable to register any new players for his squad until January 2018 and will make the Spanish club to do all they can to hold on to their current crop of stars, leaving Manchester United's potential move for Antoine Griezmann to be doubt.

Other transfers in jeopardy of collapsing are imminent move for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette, and the potential return of Diego Costa to the Spanish capital.

Atletico Madrid were hit with a two-window transfer ban by FIFA last year over illegal youth signings. The rules are put in place by football's governing body to prevent child trafficking and luring young players from their home nation.

The club waived their right to have their ban suspended during the January 2017 window while their appeal was ongoing in the hope they would be free to conclude deals this summer had their ban been reduced to one window.

Neighbours Real Madrid, who were sanctioned at the same time, had already received news that their ban would be reduced to one window, giving their rivals hope of a similar outcome.

However, judges ruled that the precedent set by the Real decision did not apply to Atletico, and they will enter their new Wanda Metropolitano Stadium with no new players to parade.

Alexander Lacazette had looked poised to join from Ligue 1, however they must now convince the forward to wait and register in 2018, or risk losing him to another European force, with plenty of suitors reported to still hold an interest in the France international.

Diego Costa had also expressed a desire to return after Chelsea's FA Cup final defeat on Saturday, but any move for the 28-year-old striker must now be put on hold.

The Spanish side must now redouble their efforts to keep their best stars too meaning United will now need to meet Griezmann's £85million release fee, not to mention convince the 26-year-old he is not leaving his current side in the lurch, if they hope to bring him to Old Trafford.

Simeone will now be forced to assess the progress of players sent out on loan last season in order to bolster his squad for the season ahead, with his side now in danger of losing further ground on Real and Barcelona.



Argentine pair Matias Kranevitter and Luciano Vietto both enjoyed prosperous spells at Sevilla where they were part of a side that secured Champions League football, while 20-year-old Diogo Jota impressed for Porto.