Barcelona is currently working hard on the departure of Antoine Griezmann. L’Equipe writes that the Catalans have offered the 30-year-old attacker to Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Atlético Madrid and Juventus. Griezmann himself would be interested in a return to Atlético, which sold him to Barcelona two years ago for 120 million euros.
It is starting to look more and more like Griezmann will leave Barcelona this summer. The Catalans reportedly want to discharge the Frenchman, because his sky-high salary puts a heavy burden on the budget. Should Griezmann leave, part of the released salary can be spent on Lionel Messi’s contract extension. However, there is a second reason why Barcelona wants to get rid of Griezmann, writes L’Equipe. Griezmann was recently discredited when an old video circulated showing him and teammate Ousmane Dembélé ridiculing several people trying to fix a technology problem in their hotel room.
“I have always opposed any form of discrimination. For the past few days, people have wanted to portray me as someone who is not against discrimination. I deny all allegations made against me and apologize if I have hurt my Japanese friends,” Griezmann tweeted on the video dating from 2019, when Barcelona was at a training camp in Japan. The video has led to a conflict between Barcelona and its Japanese main sponsor Rakuten, which is also a reason for the Catalans to display Griezmann despite his contract still running until mid-2024.
Griezmann, however, has no intention of leaving just like that. “Not just because Barcelona is in a difficult situation,” he said L’Equipe a source close to Griezmann. The attacker has been offered to Juventus, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Atlético, according to the French sports newspaper, but has a clear preference: a return to Madrid, where he still has a good relationship with trainer Diego Simeone. Recently, there have been emphatic rumors of a trade deal between Barcelona and Atlético, forcing Saúl Ñíguez to go the opposite way. ARA reported this week that this swap deal has been canceled for good.
“We have a very good relationship. A relationship that goes beyond sports, as my daughters play a lot with his sons. He is an extraordinary player. Apart from everything he has given Atletico, I hope he does well at Barcelona. At the European Championship he showed that he can show great things everywhere,” Simeone said in an interview with ASH. Griezmann’s hefty annual salary would be a stumbling block for Atlético in addition to a transfer fee to be paid on top of the exchange deal. By the way, not all fans of . are los Colchoneros waiting for Griezmann’s return, as some of the supporters still resent his departure to Barcelona.