It is not being the best of summers for Antoine Griezmann, despite the fact that before the beginning of it he promised them happy. A good final sprint with Barça made him arrive at the Eurocup in good spirits. With France he is captain general and the continental tournament seemed to be written for a victory for Deschamps. However, the relaxation against Switzerland ended in a penalty shoot-out that lived up to its nickname and was fateful for Les Bleus. Grizi could not help, as he was replaced prematurely, when the tie seemed little less than a chimera.
Then the video of the controversy with Dembélé would arrive. In it, you could see them despise Japanese culture, something that ended up costing him his position as Konami's ambassador and for which he had to apologize for both the club (the main Blaugrana sponsor is Rakuten) and the player himself. “I have always been committed against any kind of discrimination (…), I regret that I could offend my Japanese friends”, said the '7', to whom the summer had reserved a new setback …
Spiny outlet
Barcelona's financial situation forced the club to file the salary burden to be able to renew Messi. One of those affected, in addition to the Lenglet, Umtiti or Pjanic, has been the little Prince. Although confidence in him was confirmed from the sports management, his name was placed on the club's starting ramp two years after having arrived for 120 million euros. At Barça they are looking for a destination for him, but Griezmann has no intention of making it easy for him. At least, that is extracted from the statements made by the circle close to the forward to L'Équipe: “Antoine is not willing to accept any exit conditions simply because Barça is in a difficult situation”.
Maçon's numbers in Barcelona have not been bad. In fact, last year he signed 21 goals and 13 assists. However, its 36 million euros gross per year, a figure that the French newspaper slides, oblige to be much more decisive than it is being. Furthermore, it is that amount that makes his departure is crucial to make up the battered coffers of the club. To make matters worse, Memphis Depay and Sergio Agüero, Barça signings, will collide positionally with Grizou. Like Dembélé and Ansu Fati, injured but who will also be direct competition when they bury their respective physical problems. Amen from Messi, but the '10' is another story.
The barter that does not quite fit
The idyllic operation seemed to surface a few dates ago. The vaunted barter with Saul. Barcelona would save the salary difference between the two, the rojiblanco became Koeman's Wijnaldum, after the Dutchman's swerve to Paris, and Antoine returned to Wanda. Even Cholo came to speak of the movement in his interview with AS. “We need a forward, if it is not him, it will be another,” said a Simeone who also acknowledged having a “very good relationship” with his ex-pupil. Griezmann liked the idea, as has been published, that he has Atlético as his favorite destination if he finally comes out.
Griezmann's numbers and his heat map.
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But the final setback came in the form of a cooling down of the operation. Barça now looks to Renato Sanches as an alternative to Saúl and the Premier option appears for the attacker, where Manchester United have always dreamed of his signing and in Can Barça they make speculations with another potential transfer with City as the other variable in the equation. For his part, Antoine has returned from his vacation and has joined the Barça preseason. Smiling, as in him it is usual, but with his future in the air and a potential transfer as a constant hum. However, always according to the information of L'Équipe, his departure will not be a bed of roses.