LaLiga English

Former president Bartomeu brought Griezmann in to keep Messi and Suarez in check

New fascinating larval emissions from the long-compressed fissures in the subterranean terra firma of Camp Nou – since their recent volcanic eruption of seismic, earthquake proportions – have spewed forth incriminating evidence that have surfaced from two years ago when Barcelona intriguingly signed Antoine Griezmann in a move that didn’t resonate with many looking in from the outside.

Apparently, according to reports from SPORT in retrospect – for what it may or may not be worth now the deal did not come on the back of honorable sporting reasons, like it was earlier purported to be.

The report reveals supposedly shocking aspects of the Frenchman’s move to Barcelona – although, in all truthfulness at this point in time one could ill expect to be surprised by anything that emanates from the Nou Camp. Apparently in retrospect, for what it may or may not be worth now, the deal did not come on the back of sporting reasons as it had earlier been purported honorably to be.

Griezmann, 30 and a 2018 World Cup winner for France, after spending five immensely successful seasons with Atletico in his first stint at the club, scoring 133 goals in more than 250 appearances to become one of the leading players in La Liga was approached by the Barcelona powers-that-be for a lavish €120 million to secure his services.

Truth be told, Josep Maria Bartomeu, Barcelona’s former president, reportedly brought in Griezmann from Atletico Madrid only to ruffle feathers in his maniacal obsession to shift the balance of power inside the dressing room to suit the purposes of his personal machinations as he wanted to whittle down the influence of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez by bringing in another big name.

Apparently the head coach then, Ernesto Valverde, and the rest of the sporting staff had firmly recommended against the signing of the Atletico and World Cup winner. Moreover, the Technical Director, Eric Abidal, despite reports of a falling-out with Messi, has since revealed that he was not in favor of the transfer and had actually suggested to Bartomeu even then to approach Neymar instead, who was available at a similar cost but the president was inflexible and resolute in his decision.

Ten days before the end of the transfer window, I went to Paris to talk with Leonardo (PSG’s sporting director). If we didn’t sign Griezmann before, I think 100 per cent we could have re-signed Neymar.”      Eric Abidal

An incident has also been mentioned which in part brings out the truth. Apparently one day Messi reportedly went up to Valverde, curiously asking the manager which position Griezmann would play in. Valverde responded by lowering his head and said that he had no idea either, which indicated that the idea to sign Griezmann had either little or nothing to do with him.

When the captains found out about the forward’s signing through the media, they directly approached Bartomeu to clarify the matter. The former president, however, denied the news and and claimed instead it was a lie.

For the president of a club once so highly-esteemed to stoop to such low levels just to create a rift in his own dressing room is shocking, to say the least. Yet, that said, it’s only too easy to underestimate the propensity of individuals in such positions of the highest authority for advancement and amelioration of themselves and their cronies in the boardroom.

Barcelona have loaned out their former striker in the No. 7 shirt number to Atletico Madrid for a year, with an obligatory purchase option. However, they will only recover €40 of the €120 million they spent to acquire his services.

With this being only one of numerous other highly-questionable, high-profile transactions under the previous Bartomeu administration being eventually exposed after the cataclysmic eruption at Camp Nou, it’s easier to comprehend how the mighty Blaugranas are now only a shadow of what they once were as the kingpins of European football.

Comprehensible, but still immensely tough to accept.

Mes Que Une Club?

 More Crap Than Club would probably be more appropriate for a slogan these days.