Antoine Griezmann enroute Bale 2.0?

Once Barcelona spent €120 million on Antoine Griezmann, the expectations were undoubtedly high. A season later, things do not seem to be working out for the Frenchman at Camp Nou at all. 

As we’re talking about the sport, let’s look into the matters on the pitch first. Griezmann was one of the best players at Atletico Madrid. He was with them when they won the league, he was with them when they came inches close to the Champions League. However, his form at the capital has not followed him to Catalonia. 

The 29-year-old operates best as a lone striker, something that he has made evidently clear with his dig at Koeman following the victory against Croatia with France. However, his position at Camp Nou has been out on the wings, where the player is simply not used to being. 

Leo Messi has been the one to play out through the middle while Griezmann has been pushed out to the right and has been tasked with defending and operating as a traditional winger. It is evident that the Frenchman is out of his depth while on the pitch. 

On the other side of things, he has struggled to adapt to the club. The World Cup winner is often ignored by the rest of the players and is rather lonely at the club. His recent public dig at Koeman does not help things either. 

A lack of comfort can go a long way in preventing a footballer from performing on the pitch. And that is what seems to have happened. The fans haven’t taken too kindly to Griezmann either, and his situation is similar to that of Gareth Bale at Real Madrid. 

Brilliant for the country, an unbelievable player, arrived at a hefty price tag, but not respected. The only difference lies in the fact that Gareth Bale is one of the most decorated players to have played for the club. And Griezmann does not have the time, nor the conditions to replicate the Welshman’s time at Madrid. 

With Ousmane Dembele already being linked with a move away from Camp Nou, it might be the best option for the club to cash in on Griezmann rather than have him somewhere he does not want to be. 

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