Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde has confirmed the club’s interest in Antoine Griezmann, who is set to leave Atletico Madrid this summer.
According to Ernesto Valverde, Barcelona are in talks with Atletico Madrid regarding the potential transfer of Antoine Griezmannm as reported by Express. The Spaniard has confirmed reports, which were claiming the Frenchman will be on his way to Barcelona this summer.
“It is true we have already made contacts. It is true that contacts are ongoing, but the season isn’t over yet. We will see (what happens). He (Griezmann) is a great player. We’ve always said so”, the Barcelona boss said when asked about Griezmann’s potential arrival at the Nou Camp.
This will serve as a massive boost for Valverde, who has struggled with injuries to his key attackers throughout the course of the 2018-19 campaign. As a matter of fact, Barcelona have four of their six attackers sidelined with injuries at the moment. The list includes Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele, both of who have failed to surpass the 2,500-minute mark in the league this season.
Dembele, in particular, has had to deal with three different types of injuries, which minimised his overall game-time. As for Coutinho, he has been linked with a return to Premier League, after failing to impress Valverde and the Barcelona hierarchy. Manchester United is a potential destination, should the Brazilian end up leaving Camp Nou this summer.
Hence, the addition of Griezmann will provide some much-needed depth in the attacking department. Most importantly, the Frenchman will also add more quality to the Barcelona attack given the fact that he is regarded as one of the best attackers in world football.
Griezmann has been one of the most consistent performers in the Spanish top flight for the last half-a-decade or so. He has notched up 133 goals in 257 matches since joining Atletico Madrid, 21 of which have come in the UEFA Champions League.
As far as his gameplay is concerned, Griezmann’s clever movements and darting runs into the opposition boxes will help Barcelona provide some genuine threat in attack. His combination with Lionel Messi, however, will be worth looking forward to as Barcelona could be unstoppable if both of these incredibly talented attackers begin to complement each other next season.
Tactically, Griezmann can operate in the wider attacking role alongside Messi, with Luis Suarez spearheading the attack. Alternatively, the Frenchman can also feature as the false nine, with Dembele and Messi operating on the flanks.
Either way, the Blaugrana will become much more potent in attack with the addition of the Atletico Madrid superstar. Hence, Barcelona fans will be excited by Valverde’s comments and for good reason as their club look to mark a mark in Europe next season.
