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Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann announced his departure from the club today via his official Twitter page after 5 seasons at the Wanda Metropolitano. Since his signature from Real Sociedad in 2014, Griezmann has been a talismanic figure for Diego Simeone's Atletico, scoring an incredible 133 times in 256 outings for the Spanish giants.
He won the UEFA Europa League with them in the 2017-18 season as well as the UEFA Super Cup, carrying the same form into the 2018 FIFA World Cup for France, and lifting the title there as well.
As per the video announcement on the star's official Twitter handle, a post which has also been retweeted by Atletico Madrid's official twittter page, the star remarked:
"It has been five incredible years; thank you very much for everything, I take you in the heart.
"I wanted to tell the fans who have always given me a lot of love that I have taken the decision to leave, to see other things, to have other challenges. The truth is it has been difficult to take this route but it is what I feel I need and I would like to thank all of you for the love you have shown me during these five years."
The 28-year-old is headed for a big money move to Spanish champions Barcelona, in a deal valued at €125m (£108m). The French striker, who had signed a 5-year deal with Atletico last June, famously turned down Barcelona last season. With the Blaugrana willing to trigger his release clause, he has been convinced to move this season.
In this article we look at three reasons why the World Cup winner will not be an ideal fit for Ernesto Valverde's Barcelona at Camp Nou.
#3 He plays in the same position as Lionel Messi
Grizemann revels in a second striker or trequartista role for Atletico Madrid and the French National team, a similar position to what Lionel Messi plays.
This is the ideal position for him, as illustrated in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where he played behind Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud for France. His four goals and two assists won him the Bronze Ball as the tournament's third-best player behind Luka Modric (Croatia) and Eden Hazard (Belgium), as well as the Silver Boot as the tournament's second-highest top scorer, behind Harry Kane (England).
If he moves to Barcelona, he will be forced to play up front as a number 9 or down on the wing like Philippe Coutinho, a position he is unfamiliar with. Already 28, he has lost a yard or two of his famous electric pace and is unlikely to do well down the wings. He is not an out-and-out goalscorer that could shine as a No.9.
#2 He is not used to playing as second fiddle
In the French National team as well as for Atletico Madrid, Griezmann has been the main man and the talismanic player for every team he has played for. He is the one entrusted with the penalties, the corners as well as the freekicks and has enjoyed a free role behind the striker with no defensive responsibilites, both under Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid as well as under Didider Deschamps for Les Blues. He is often the player that initiates attacks and dictates the tempo of the game.
Unfortunately, a move to Barcelona will see him come up against arguably the greatest player of all time in Lionel Messi, which means the Frenchman will be forced to play second fiddle. Since they play in the sames areas of the pitch, Griezmann's natural roaming playing style might hamper the Barcelona attacks rather than benefitting it.
He is likely to be restricted to a less free roaming role and if he is to play of the wing, will have to track back and defend like Ernesto Valverde is forcing Coutinho to do this season.
#1-He is not an out-and-out goalscorer
If Ernesto Valverde is thinking of Griezmann as an alternative to Luis Suarez, he has made a poor decision. While the Frenchman is adept at sneaking in between the lines and scoring an odd goal, he is not a player that can give a team 25+ goals a season. He has contributed 19 goals and 10 assists this season for Atleti, 3 of which have been penalties. Another 3 of his goals have come from freekicks, which he is unlikely to get to take at Barcelona. After all, he would have to contend with perhaps the greatest dead ball specialist in world football today in Lionel Messi (who has scored an incredible 8 goals from direct freekicks this season)
Valverde and Barcelona would be wise to chase a proven No.9 like Eintracht Frankfurt's Serbian striker Luka Jovic or Arsenal's French hitman Alexandre Lacazette as a long-term replacement to Luis Suarez. A substitute striking option was also missing this season for the Blaugrana, with Suarez's poor form costing them in the Champions League, with the Uruguayan having scored only 1 goal in 10 appearances this season in Europe's elite competition.
Griezmann's La Liga scoring record
- 2018-19: 15 goals
- 2017-18: 19 goals
- 2016-17: 16 goals
- 2015-16: 22 goals
- 2014-15: 22 goals
Luis Suarez's La Liga scoring record
- 2018-19: 21 goals
- 2017-18: 25 goals
- 2016-17: 29 goals
- 2015-16: 40 goals
- 2014-15: 16 goals
