Soldier Griezmann

Griezmann, against Merino, de la Real, last Sunday at the Camp Nou DPA via Europa Press / Europa Press

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Called to be one of Lionel Messi's ideal partners in the Argentine national team, Paulo Dybala confessed: “It is difficult to play alongside Leo.

But I have to adapt to him and I have to make him feel comfortable ”.

The 10 of Juventus never achieved its mission.

Sometimes important in Vecchia Signora, at times imprisoned by his injuries, in Albiceleste he always had a residual role (29 games, two goals).

Something similar happened to Antoine Griezmann at Barcelona.

World champion in Russia 2018, leader of Atlético de Madrid, Messi's presence eclipsed the French.

"Deschamps knows where to put me," said Griezmann last season.

“Now Leo is gone.

It is time for some players to take a step forward ”, they underline in the Camp Nou offices;

"Antoine is one of them."

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Like Dembélé and Coutinho, Griezmann was also chased by the shadow of Neymar.

None of the three managed to fill their void.

None of them connected with Messi as the São Paulo player had.

Dembélé was punished for injuries and Coutinho was scared at the Camp Nou.

Griezmann, on the other hand, no one questioned his effort.

"I love working with Griezmann because he is a team player who always helps without the ball," says Koeman.

Sacrificed in the field, the French also adds in the dressing room.

"He is very happy and encourages others," adds the Dutch coach.

In his 100 games for Barcelona - he celebrated them against Real Sociedad - the Frenchman has added 35 goals and 17 assists.

When Griezmann signed for Barça, a question resounded in the locker room. "Where is he going to play?" Questioned the group of heavyweights. “Now Antoine will surely be more important. It is a possibility that he occupies the position that was Leo's. It will give you and your team more freedom. It can be an advantage for him, ”Koeman understands. At Barcelona's La Liga debut against Real, Griezmann settled on the right wing. The leading role, however, went to Memphis Depay. If the leader of the French team is Mbappé and at Barça it was Messi, now Griezmann also agrees to be a Depay soldier. The stopped ball, for example, was taken over by the Dutch. "It's normal, isn't it? Memphis has a very good foot ”, they defend in the technical area.

Barcelona have tried to get rid of Griezmann in this transfer window, especially when he still dreamed of retaining Messi.

"This is a very difficult market, and it is much more so when you want to place a player with his salary," they explain at the Barça club.

In addition, Barça still has to amortize 72 million euros of his signing.

Atlético, which knows the delicate economic situation of the Barça entity, sought to fish cheaply at the Camp Nou.

“We weren't going to accept a trade for Saul.

It was not good for Barça ”, they underline at the Joan Gamper Sports City.

Both Koeman and the Barcelona sports department rely on Griezmann's experience to embrace the promising youngsters.

"We have to take advantage of its virtues," they insist.

Of course, they do not want to think about the cost of their signing.

120 million

"If you put aside what it cost - 120 million for his termination clause, plus 15 million for a right of first refusal on Saúl and Giménez - and his salary - today the highest in the squad - he is a good player.

He is not a crack, but in this Barça he can find his place ”, they explain from the sports area.

Having ruled out Messi's new contract - the Argentine, on vacation this weekend in Barcelona, ​​has already signed with PSG - the Barça board agreed to a salary cut with Piqué and is negotiating with the rest of the captains.

Busquets, Sergi Roberto and Jordi Alba are close to accepting a cut in their salary.

Next on the list are the two highest salaries on the roster: Griezmann and Coutinho.

As they assure in Barcelona, ​​the negotiation with the Brazilian will not be easy.

The French, on the other hand, has shown good predisposition.

Griezmann adds off the field, now he has to add inside;

he no longer has the excuse of Messi's shadow.

"Pedri will have two weeks of vacation"

In his first season at Barça, 18-year-old Pedri became a key player: 53 games. “We have been thinking about what is best for Pedri for a long time. He will play against Athletic, but then he will have a two-week vacation, ”Koeman said yesterday. The canary has 75 games if you take into account those he played with Spain. La Roja reached the semifinals in the Eurocup and Pedri also won the silver in Tokyo 2020. "I have spoken with Luis Enrique," added Koeman. If the coach frees him from the duels against Sweden (September 2), Georgia (September 5) and Kosovo (September 8), the midfielder will stretch the holidays. "We don't want him to come to November with physical problems," said the Barça coach.

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