There were high expectations for Antoine Griezmann when he finally arrived in Barcelona. Considering the team shelled out a record sum of about $130 million, it was only normal the bar was set high. Unfortunately, that has not happened and now the word going around is that the 29-year-old forward could be on the block due to underwhelming performance.
However, transfer talks have not bothered the French footballer. He has been quiet and prefers to focus on learning the system of Quique Setien. Ideally, Griezmann is known as a 20-25 goal scorer but such has not happened as of to date. He has managed only 14 goals and four assists in 37 games for Barca, numbers that are undoubtedly disappointing.
Teams who want to pluck Griezmann away from Barcelona will need to spend big to get him. Barca wants a nine-figure deal, a move that is likely to cover up the huge investment they paid for the French player with Atletico Madrid. With the high price on his head, seeing Griezmann leave may take a while.
On his end, Griezmann is trying to keep his mind in check. He knows that it has barely been a year since he moved over to Barcelona and the 29-year-old prefers to keep quiet and try to blend in with the team. This is even though there are reportedly several unnamed players over there who are not too keen on playing with him. And this is one reason why the same person who facilitated his transfer is up in arms.
Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, scout Eric Olhats bared how Griezmann is visibly unhappy with his stay in Barca. He believes that the French forward can offer more although that depends on several factors. One is that his teammates need to trust him and pass the ball, something he pointed out was not happening.
“Other players and friends said that his game was going to fit in and adapt very well to the way Barca play, tiki-taka and all that, but I don’t like his performances," Olhats said. “You see that there are problems, that he isn’t enjoying it.”
Regardless of what Olhats feels, Griezmann is simply trying to survive and act professionally. He admits that he is still struggling in Barcelona and all he can do is try to learn the process and hopefully blend in. With the coronavirus issue paralyzing the whole world, Griezmann gets the benefit of time to learn the plays and maybe review some of the things he needs to adjust to once football action resumes.
