Atlético had a plan in the transfer market … which has been completely altered. If last year there was a summer opportunity in the figure of Luis Suárez, this course Griezmann's return can mark the reinforcement up front. The rojiblanco club was looking for a tip that would make the Uruguayan compatible, with names on the table like those of Moussa Dembélé, who already played that role during the second half of last year, or Rafa Mir.
But, as advanced Sports world, the market options of Barcelona and Atlético can lead to a barter to solve the needs of the two clubs. The blaugranas need to reduce the salary mass to be able to enroll Messi and they look for an arriving midfielder after Wijnaldum slipped away at the last minute, a quality that Saúl manages to perfection. The midfielder would have concluded that it is time for a change of scene, and with De Paul to supply him, Atlético could receive a highly valued piece in exchange.
The rojiblanco club confirmed to AS the negotiations that Miguel Ángel Gil has been carrying out with Mateo Alemany for days and that they could be closed, if all goes smoothly, next week. Although Griezmann is not a nine, he may end up being the missing attacking piece. The Frenchman was Atlético's top scorer in his five seasons at the club, surpassing 20 goals in all of them, with 32 goals in his best course and 21 in his last season, his worst figure which is the same as that achieved by Suárez this year as the top scorer in the squad.
Simeone found him the ideal position behind the striker, with great freedom of movement and with the ability to finish the plays, but also to generate them. An area of the field where João Félix arrived to replace him and in which Correa has exploded with a fantastic year, key to the league title. However, Griezmann has come to serve as a reference above both at Atlético and Barcelona, that with the goodbye of Suárez it was left without a battering ram to use. The Uruguayan, with whom the current '7' Blaugrana shared a dressing room, is 34 years old and is currently the only center forward in Atlético's first team beyond Saponjic's return on loan, which doesn't count for Simeone.
But, during Suárez's injury, Cholo turned to Correa as a reference above with great results. And Griezmann can also act there. If the French arrive, the planning of '9' may end up changing. There would be many alternatives above (also Llorente), but a single specialist in the figure of Suárez. Atlético is still attentive to market opportunities and is willing to take advantage of each one of them, including a transfer to increase the payroll of battering rams, but, with Griezmann on the squad, his forward would be a luxury.