Football
Mark Rodden 8y

Antoine Griezmann backed to emulate Neymar and Thomas Muller by Ginola

Former France international David Ginola has tipped Atletico Madrid attacker Antoine Griezmann to become as effective for club and country as Neymar and Thomas Muller have been.

Griezmann, 25, is improving rapidly in Spain and has scored 29 goals in all competitions this season.

He has netted six times in the Champions League, including twice against Barcelona in the quarterfinals, and will get another chance to enhance his reputation when Atletico host Bayern Munich on Wednesday in the first leg of their quarterfinal tie.

With Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema not available for selection, Griezmann will also have more responsibility for France this summer as they try to win Euro 2016 on home soil.

With that in mind, Ginola feels that Griezmann could become as iconic a figure as Barcelona and Brazil star Neymar or Bayern Munich and Germany forward Muller.

"In terms of his own abilities, he has the potential of a Neymar or a Thomas Muller but he has to show consistency over several years," the former Paris-Saint Germain, Newcastle and Tottenham winger told France Football.

"[Chelsea's Eden] Hazard, who was the sensation of last year, has flagged since. I'm not worried for Griezmann -- this guy who has moved up several levels in the last few weeks.

"He's gaining in maturity -- you see that in the risk-taking that he allows himself in the game in order to destabilise defences.

"He likes to provoke things with the ball at his feet -- it's a sign of great confidence in himself.

"As well as that, he's never injured. He's a dream for a manager. All the top clubs are interested in him."

Ginola, 49, believes it will be hard for Atletico to keep hold of Griezmann for much longer if the former Real Sociedad player has a good end to the season and shines at Euro 2016.

He said: "Do you know a lot of guys who have his multi-faceted style, who express themselves as well in every attacking position, who score a lot of goals and think of the team first? And that at only 25 years of age.

"From the next transfer window, he'll be a target for a top club and large sums of money will be discussed."

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