Complete Barcelona transfer window recap: Messi departure, Griezmann’s deadline day exit and more

Barcelona Departures:

Lionel Messi

Perhaps the one will hurt the most is the departure of Lionel Messi. A young boy who came from Rosario and bent the destiny to his own will, unarguably the greatest of all time, left Barcelona after 21 years. Following the failure to re-sign Messi due to the financial limitations, the Argentine signed for PSG on a free transfer reuniting with Neymar.

The 34 year old’s departure, will surely affect Barcelona’s market value and brand image with estimations of Barca being deprived of around 137 million euros in the commercial and sporting sector. But, the separation has also given Barcelona some margin in the wage bill. As per a report, the Argentine pocketed anywhere close to 70 million to 90 million euros per season.

Antoine Griezmann

Antoine Griezmann was the second highest earning player after Messi, pocketing close to 35 million euros a year. His sale earlier could’ve probably allowed Barcelona to keep Messi but Atletico Madrid played it out very smartly, taking advantage of Barca’s desperation and going for him on transfer deadline day. Griezmann has moved back to Atletico Madrid, reuniting with Diego Simeone after two seasons at Camp Nou, scoring 35 goals and assisting another 17 in 102 appearances, a poor return for the 120 million euros the Catalans paid as release clause.

The Frenchman has joined the Los Rojiblancos on a loan with obligation to buy with Atleti covering his entire wages and paying 40 million euros to Barca to make the move permanent next summer.