Antoine Griezmann's second chance
On the 14th June 2018, Antoine Griezmann announced via his infamous 'La Decision' video that he would be signing a new contract at Atletico Madrid. The French forward had flirted with Barça but ultimately turned them down to earn €20m per season rather than play alongside Lionel Messi. Barcelona felt humiliated after Griezmann publicly rejected their offer and it angered supporters who were excitedly expecting his arrival. It didn't take long for Griezmann to regret his decision and ask Bartomeu for a second chance. Despite some concerns from senior members of the squad and supporters, the president feels the deal is still too good to turn down.
Today is a crucial day in that move becoming a reality because his buyout clause drops from €200m to €120m. That's still a fair price in the current market when transfer fees continue to rise. Griezmann was set to be the star signing this summer until Neymar appeared on the scene. The Brazilian wants a second chance at the Camp Nou himself and now Bartomeu must find €300m to bring in both players. Remember, this is a Barça squad which already has Messi, Suarez, Coutinho, Dembele and Malcom amongst its ranks. Of course, the last three on that list will need to be sold in order to make room for the new signings, as well as balance the books.
The work Bartomeu must do on the financial side to bring in Neymar and Griezmann is nothing compared to the task facing Valverde as he looks to fit all his stars into the XI.
