Antoine Griezmann, the star player of Atlético, returns to FC Barcelona on Sunday evening, where he has had two complicated years. Xavi would have liked to keep the 2018 world champion.
It’s the clash of the 29th day of La Liga between two quarter-finalists of the Champions League: Atlético de Madrid hosts FC Barcelona, Sunday evening (9 p.m.), in its lair at Civitas Metropolitano. The Blaugranas, third in the standings, are six points ahead of the Colchoneros. The opportunity for Antoine Griezmann to return to Barça, his club from 2019 to 2021 (35 goals in 102 matches). Alongside Lionel Messi, the French international was never able to give his best.
Xavi would have liked to deal with “Grizi”, he who was inducted onto the FCB bench a few months after the world champion’s return to Atléti. “It was also a financial problem here. I really like this player, he makes differences wherever he goes. He is an organizing attacking midfielder or a scorer. He did not continue for several reasons but mainly because of the payroll”responded the young coach on Saturday at a press conference.
Griezmann’s insane salary at Barça
It is an understatement to say that the recruitment of Griezmann was a financial disaster for FC Barcelona, at the time led by Josep Maria Bartomeu. The native of Mâcon not only cost 120 million euros in transfer compensation, he also obtained a progressive and completely crazy salary, at 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 million euros gross per year. By lending him to Atlético in 2021, Barça saved 60 million euros in salary, with Griezmann also agreeing to return to 10 million euros annually with the Madrilenians.
Since then, the vice-captain of the Blues has obviously once again become the essential element of Diego Simeone’s team. After a superb season with 16 goals and 19 assists in 48 matches in all competitions (not counting his very good 2022 World Cup in Qatar), Griezmann is currently at 19 goals and 7 assists in 37 matches. He has already been decisive this week by scoring against Inter on Wednesday, a few days before returning to Barça…
