Barcelona: Antoine Griezmann reveals his decision
The talented Frenchman has finally ended the drama over his future.
Griezmann has opted to stay at Atletico Madrid for the near future, which is a huge blow for Barcelona. He was seen as the missing link for the attack, which would help take them to the next level. However, his loyalty to Atleti has denied him the chance to play alongside the greatest player of all time. It’s a significant decision for his career and one he may come to regret, but it has to be respected.
The main issue with this decision isn’t his actual choice, but rather how he has gone about it. His decision to drag it out with a lot of delaying and media attention has done little to endear him to either set of fans. Rather than looking honest, it looks fake and self-centered. His decision was probably tough, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he is telling the truth in that regard. However, he could have handled it a lot better.
This approach has only put more pressure on him over his performances next season, and it will have affected his World Cup preparation because France’s first game is only two days away. It could have been delayed until after the tournament ended or made clear once the domestic season finished.
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How does this affect Barcelona?
This has a huge impact because he was supposed to be the statement signing for the club this summer. Instead the board look red-faced because this doesn’t look good on them at all. They need to invest in the squad, but this decision could be a blessing. He would have improved the squad, but there are other needs in the squad which should take priority.
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Griezmann’s release clause was reported to be €100 million after July 1st, so that’s a large amount of money which could be spent elsewhere. Clement Lenglet was going to be signed separately of this decision, so the money doesn’t need to be spent on him.
Thiago and Frenkie de Jong should be the main targets. The Spaniard would provide a noticeable improvement to the midfield while the 21-year-old could be a long-term replacement for Sergio Busquets. Together they are likely to cost 105 million based on reports, although Thiago’s price could go down if another player is offered such as Lucas Digne.
Barcelona should also consider investing in Matthijs de Ligt as well as another striker. However, they will have to offload some players to achieve this. De Ligt would be a long-term solution for the defence, and fits the style perfectly same as De Jong. Luis Suarez is past his peak, so he is only going to decline. Therefore, Barcelona need to plan for that eventuality and potentially avoid by bringing in a young prospect to replace him in the next few seasons. Timo Werner could be a possibility, but he would cost a lot.