Minguella: While Griezmann's at Barcelona, I won't go to Camp Nou

Minguella: While Griezmann's at Barcelona, I won't go to Camp Nou

Josep Maria Minguella analiza el fichaje de Griezmann
Josep Maria Minguella analiza el fichaje de Griezmann | sport

Griezmann completed his 120 million euro move to Barça on Friday

Former agent Josep Maria Minguella was against Barcelona Antoine Griezmann and says he will not visit Camp Nou while the Frenchman is at the club -- something he said weeks ago and plans to stick to. He spoke to SPORT:

Do you maintain what you said about not going to Camp Nou if Barça sign Griezmann?

People that know me know I am old school and I don't need a contract to follow through on my word. I said it then and I completely maintain it. I've been a socio for 70 years and my father always taught me to be respectful to the club, the players, the directors... Sometimes I am not in agreement, but I have never said anything that could offend the club. I have had complicated moments with Nuñez and Laporta, but never over personal issues. And I want to underline that if I said something, I never had the intention of going against Barça. 

Why does the signing annoy you?

We have to remember that last year some of Griezmann's agents met with Barcelona's people at a restaurant in Tibidabo and reached an agreement. He had the possibility to go back on that, that's clear, but I think the way he did it -- and many socios think the same -- was not correct. The proof is in how he was received at Camp Nou (when he returned still at Atletico Madrid). I don't think it was the right way to do it and for that reason, while he's at Barcelona, I will not go to the stadium. I said that and I will do it. I will watch the games on television. I wish Greizmann a lot of luck as a Barça player and hope he has a lot of success, but I have always asked all players -- from Maradona to Messi -- to have the utmost respect for Barcelona.  

What do you think of Griezmann as a player?

He seems a good player to me. He's dynamic, he scores, but he could have problems with his position. Griezmann's been really good behind a No9 that fights with the centre-backs, like Giroud and Diego Costa, but he has problems when he doesn't have that. And if the structure does not change, the No9 at Barça is Luis Suarez and Messi plays behind him with complete freedom. Barça have the position occupied while the Argentine is there. In addition, they have Suárez, Messi, Dembélé, Coutinho, Malcom… A lot of forwards for three positions. They're great players and expensive players, that could provoke problems. 

And what about a possible Neymar return?

He is a player whose name divides the fans, but the problem is how to do the operation. In my opinion, it can only be done as an exchange, like with Cillessen and Neto. Otherwise, you're talking about huge figures. It also depends on what happens with Dembele and Coutinho, because I've already said there's an excess of forwards. A player of that level on the bench is an explosion in the dressing room. If the deal moves forward, Neymar has to make an honest confession about regretting leaving and two or three forwards have to leave. Otherwise, there are problems with money and on the pitch.