Griezmann welcome at Barca ―Valverde

Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde admits he would welcome the potential arrival of Antoine Griezmann at the Camp Nou this summer.

There has been continued speculation that France international Griezmann will join the Blaugrana from Atletico Madrid during the close-season and Barca forward Luis Suarez appeared to add fuel to the fire earlier this week when he suggested the move was likely to take place.

Valverde was less forthright in his opinion on the potential transfer, but he would certainly welcome the arrival of Griezmann in Catalonia.

“I don’t know if Suarez knows something I don’t,” Valverde said ahead of Sunday’s Clasico against Real Madrid.

“I’m proud that we’ve signed players of [Griezmann’s] quality. He’s a player who gives a lot. He’s been playing at a very high level for many years, always fighting.

“He leads Atletico’s attack and is a crucial player for them. He’d be welcome here, not because he’d come to take someone’s place but rather because he would have the ambition of wanting to win trophies.’

Griezmann has spent the last four seasons with Atletico, netting 79 goals in 141 La Liga appearances to date.