Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho, condemned to go

Barcelona have taken the decision to get rid of Griezmann and Coutinho. They will not play for the club next season. It’s irreversible, non negotiable. For both sporting and economic reasons. Neither has matched the expectations generated by their huge price tags. The club now needs to save the money of their wages to help register Messi on his new deal and the other signings. Griezmann and Coutinho are two of the most expensive players in the history of the club and two of Josep Maria Bartomeu’s biggest mistakes. The third in the series is Ousmane Dembele, who would also be on the exit ramp were it not for his injury. In his case Barca have to renew his deal so they can sell him down the line

Laporta is willing to pressure whoever he needs to to make Griezmann and Coutinho leave. He has chosen to be inflexible at this time. Griezmann knows his future lies at Atletico, albeit not at any price. They don’t want to make the Suarez mistake again. Coutinho, loan or transfer, it doesn’t matter. The objective is not to pay their salaries any longer. Bartomeu’s poisoned inheritance is a millstone round the new board’s neck. The debt is gigantic, nearly 1.5 billion euros, and changing the situation needs brave and risky decisions.