Barcelona striker Antoine Griezmann will look to prove a point as he returns ‘home’ for the first time to face former side Atletico Madrid tomorrow in La Liga.
The Spanish champions bought Griezmann in the summer, ending a transfer saga that had dragged on longer than two years.
Atletico reported Barcelona to the ruling body FIFA in December 2017 for approaching Griezmann, who then turned down his current owners in June 2018, revealing his choice in a documentary called The Decision.
Barcelona then paid Griezmann’s buy-out clause in July after it dropped from 200 mn euros (220 mn dollars) to 120 mn.
Atletico Madrid contested the deal’s validity, saying Griezmann accepted Barcelona’s offer before the clause dropped, with the Catalans later paying the Rojiblancos another 15 mn euros, although they denied it was linked to the Frenchman’s move.
Even after the transfer furore, it has not been plain sailing for Griezmann at Barcelona.
The striker has five goals in 17 appearances across all competitions and has not proven the crucial presence Barcelona wanted to complement Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi in attack.
Griezmann doesn’t fit into the Barcelona team, with his preferred second striker position not a slot the Spanish champions utilise.
Messi set up Griezmann for the third goal as Barcelona beat Borussia Dortmund 3-1 on Wednesday to seal Champions League last 16 qualification, with the forward ending a run of six matches without scoring.
“As has happened with other teammates, knowing he was struggling to score, when we were ahead we looked for him,” Suarez explained after the game.
“Antoine did spectacularly, he had chances and he scored. It’s important for his confidence.”
The Uruguayan’s words highlight that Barcelona players are concerned about the former Atletico man’s adaptation ahead of his return to the Wanda Metropolitano.
Griezmann started on the bench in midweek but came on after Ousmane Dembele suffered an injury, which will keep him out at the weekend and ensure his compatriot starts.
Barcelona are top of the league, tied on 28 points from 13 games with Real Madrid, while Atletico are fourth on 25 points.
As much as the Catalans have not convinced, Diego Simeone’s side is enduring an underwhelming season too.
Defeat at Juventus on Tuesday leaves them needing victory against Lokomotiv Moscow in their final Champions League group game to guarantee qualification for the knock-out rounds.
Today, Real Madrid have the chance to move three points clear before Barcelona play, as they travel to Alaves.
Los Blancos drew 2-2 with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday and for 80 minutes managed their best performance of Zinedine Zidane’s second reign, before conceding two goals in the final stages.
Madrid have scored 20 goals in their last six games across all competitions and finally look back to their best.
They will be without star summer signing Eden Hazard, who injured his ankle against PSG and is poised to miss 10 days.
“We’re working brilliantly and making progress,” said Zidane.
“The players are the same now as they were before, we just had to be patient. We have to keep playing in the same way and growing as a team, that’s all there is to it. That’s football.”
Barcelona forward Antoine Griezmann reacts after a goal during the UEFA Champions League Group F match against Borussia Dortmund in Barcelona, Spain, on Wednesday. (AFP)
