FC Barcelona’s players have allegedly spoken out against a commitment from striker star Antoine Griezmann, who will leave Atletico Madrid this summer. This was reported by the Catalan newspaper Sport, referring to a source close to Barca’s team.
According to this, Griezmann is unpopular with Captain Lionel Messi and Co., the team is said to have already informed Barca President Josep Maria Bartomeu of the team’s aversion to a possible commitment by the world champion.
One of the reasons for the reservations is that Griezmann made his rejection of Barcelona and his stay at Atletico public last summer in a specially produced short documentary – although at the time some of the Spanish champion’s protagonists had probably previously campaigned for Griezmann’s purchase. In addition, the team does not see the 28-year-old Frenchman as the type of player who would help the Catalans currently.
Griezmann had announced last Tuesday that he would be leaving Atletico this summer despite his contract until 2023 and would make use of his opt-out clause, which will be 120 million euros from 1 July.
Like a year ago, Barca is now considered a hot candidate for Griezmann’s transfer. Coach Ernesto Valverde had not denied an interest of the Blaugrana at the press conference on Saturday: “We will see what happens,” he said. PSG coach Thomas Tuchel and Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola, on the other hand, had already made it clear that they would not be looking for the attacker.
Griezmann switched from Real Sociedad to Atletico in 2014 and scored 133 goals in a total of 257 matches for the Colchoneros. On Saturday at the 2:2 against Levante he completed his last assignment for the team of coach Diego Simeone. Last season Griezmann, who won the Europa League with Atleti in 2018, scored 21 goals.
