Wherever he goes, he remains a problem. And it’s not even his fault. Since he changed Atletico Madrid for Barcelona in 2019, his problems began and the form declined and now, three years later, he is in the middle of the off-field issues. Antoine Griezmann thought that he was on top of the world when he signed for Barcelona in 2019, along with Frenkie de Jong, goalkeeper Neto and defender Emerson, and joined the squad filled with stars: Messi, Luis Suarez, Dembele and Coutinho, but things only got worse. The club (and the dressing room) actually wanted Neymar back, so the Frenchman was basically a reserve option. He was not a player for Barca’s system and was forced to play on the left in a 4-3-3 set-up. 🚨 If Atlético Madrid plays Antoine Griezmann less than 30 minutes per game, the purchase clause in his loan will not become mandatory.He has played exactly 29 minutes in both of Atleti’s league games so far.(Source: @relevo) pic.twitter.com/85MNGuz7AE— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) August 22, 2022 When the financial troubles were revealed at Nou Camp, he was one of the first players who were on a transfer list, mainly due to his high wage. In a shock move on the last day of the transfer window in 2021, he was loaned back to Atletico for a two years loan, with an obligation to buy for 40 million euros. Even thou he was back to his natural habitat, Griezmann still didn’t flourish. 2021-2022 season was marred by his first long injury and a breakdown in front of goal for more than seven months in official matches. After the nightmare 2021 season was over, he was hoping to start with a clean sheet in 2022, but so far, it’s not looking good at all. And it’s not because of him.Winning titles is hard, but it’s still easier than gaining Diego Simeone’s trustAtletico Madrid has an obligation to buy the Frenchman at the end of the season, under certain circumstances, but the 2020 La Liga champion are in a financial crisis and don’t want to give Barcelona 40 million at end of the season. And that’s the main problem. The conditions are clear: If he plays more than 45 minutes in 14 games this season then Atletico Madrid are bound by contract to sign him and give him two more years. Barca splashed $55 million on Kounde – but they still can’t use himThe club has already contacted the player and tried to negotiate with him, mainly with the idea to shrink his wage. According to Mundo Deportivo, the player has been asked to take a 30% pay cut, but let’s not forget that he is already on a 50% lesser wage, which he agreed to, when he moved from Barcelona in 2021. And what’s even worse for the player, he is now being benched and only comes in as a sub for 29 minutes, and all this is happening just three months before the World Cup, in which France will be one of the favorites and Griezman wants to go, but won’t be able if he is on the bench. It’s needles to say that Barca doesn’t want him either, as they have problems of their own and cannot register Kounde for days now. After all, they are expecting 40 million, not to get the player back. ##NAJAVA_MECA_6589055##“I hope he continues with us, I appreciate him and I love him. Everyone knows how important he is to the team. Hopefully I can continue in the line that he had in the preseason and in this Getafe game” said Diego Simeone recently, fully aware of the situation, which he cannot change.
