Barcelona forward Antoine Griezmann could reportedly become a target for La Liga outfit Athletic Club if they appoint Marcelo Bielsa as their new manager.
According to a report by Spanish publication AS, Antoine Griezmann could become the subject of interest from Athletic Club if Marcelo Bielsa becomes the next manager at San Mames. The French international will likely leave Barcelona in the summer transfer window.
Antoine Griezmann joined Barcelona from Atletico Madrid for a nine-figure sum in July 2019, with the move proving controversial. Nonetheless, the 31-year-old was supposed to be a top-class addition to the first-team squad at Camp Nou, especially with Luis Suarez in the twilight of his career.
But the French international has failed to perform consistently at FC Barcelona, producing only a handful of noteworthy performances. And Griezmann spent the 2021/22 season on loan at Atletico Madrid, with Barcelona hoping for him to regain his form and confidence before cashing in on him this summer.
But Griezmann blew hot and cold this past season, managing only eight goals and seven assists in 39 appearances across all competitions. And while initial reports claimed that Atletico Madrid could re-sign Griezmann permanently from Barcelona, Los Rojiblancos might opt against it.
There had also been suggestions that Atletico Madrid and Barcelona could agree to a swap deal involving Griezmann and Morata. But the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner is set to return to Camp Nou, with an alternative destination emerging for him ahead of the summer transfer window.
Athletic Club could launch the offensive to sign Griezmann in the summer transfer window. But the Basque outfit will only make the move if Marcelo Bielsa becomes their new manager ahead of the 2022/23 season. Los Leones have several candidates in mind for the managerial berth, with Bielsa one of the favourites to take the hot seat at San Mames.
Griezmann could be a solid addition to the Athletic Club first-team squad, considering long-serving attacker Raul Garcia is in the twilight of his career. The Barcelona forward also fits Bilbao’s Basque-only criterion. But a move might only materialise if Bielsa replaces Marcelino as the new Athletic Club manager, and it will be interesting to see what transpires on that front. His Barcelona future, though, seems non-existent.