It appears that Antoine Griezmann's summer move to Manchester United is one of the worst kept secrets in football.
While there is still plenty of time for the arse to fall out of any deal, we've had an admission from Diego Simeone that Atletico would not stand in his way if he wanted to leave, which followed the revelation that he's been on the phone to his good mate Paul Pogba every day. If that concrete evidence wasn't enough, Antoine's younger brother Theo has been getting Man Utd fans in a stir with his suggestive social media activity.
Anyone who has been paying attention will tell you that in 2017, family Instagrams and twitter posts are the modern equivalent of a player holding up a scarf outside the training ground.
But just in case Man Utd fans needed more fuel to start dreaming about the talented Frenchman occupying the coveted #7 shirt at Old Trafford, comments made by Griezmann's image advisor, a job title that will make the more traditional football fans out there sick to their stomach, will do just that.
Speaking to 'So Foot' about what has been published about his client in recent weeks, Sébastien Bellencontre explained that Griezmann's fondness for David Beckham means that the transfer would make a lot of sense on their end, after claiming that his aim was to have his client seen as a sort of hybrid between David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane.
Beckham because he’s [Griezmann’s] idol, but also because I want to make him a fashion icon that goes beyond his football career. Zidane for the French DNA, simplicity, family values, and loyalty too. We want Antoine to finish his career with Puma, for example.
When I read articles about a hypothetical transfer to Manchester United, I’ve got to say it would be the ideal scenario marketing wise. He would play in Beckham’s club, his idol, with the same number seven on his back.
While it may seem absolutely ridiculous for a man to be employed to guide how a footballer is seen by the public, it's hard to doubt that Griezmann arriving at Man Utd would be anything but ridiculously profitable for all involved.
Expect emojis on the side of the pitch, terrible, terrible film tie-ins, and presumably the announcement of his signing in some sort of rap video if the deal does go ahead, and while that will surely entertain the fans of rival teams due to it's high degree of nonsense, United fans won't care if one of the most talented attackers in world football lines up in their side at the start of next season.
