Barcelona’s attempt of signing Antoine Griezmann has apparently been quashed because Lionel Messi wants a Golden Boot winner ahead of the Frenchman.
Atletico Madrid superstar Antoine Griezmann took to the club’s official Facebook handle last week to announce that he would be leaving during the summer. The France international insisted that he wants a change in his career and passively said that he intends to win a greater amount of silverware than at Atletico and hence, Barcelona has been thought to be an attractive destination.
The Catalan outfit is hoping to strengthen its frontline by signing the World Cup winner for a transfer fee of 120 million euros. Griezmann is being offered an annual wage of 17 million euros for signing with the club and though it is a 4 million euros’ drop from what he makes at the Wanda, the forward would make greater money through sponsorships and marketing deals.
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While everyone at the Camp Nou is looking forward to seeing Griezmann don the Blaugrana’s jersey and quite possibly inherit Philippe Coutinho’s number 7 jersey, Lionel Messi has other ideas, reports Fox Sports. The Argentina international is still fuming with the way Griezmann rejected Barcelona last year and has insisted that the club evaluates other options.
Rather, Lionel Messi has told the Catalan directors that they would rather go for Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane. Despite the club reaching the UEFA Champions League this year, the England striker believes that they are a long way off Manchester City and Liverpool to compete for the league and would consider a transfer this summer.
As a matter of fact, the Catalans’ captain is so much oriented toward having Harry Kane at the club over Antoine Griezmann that he has even suggested that Ernesto Valverde uses a newer formation next season. A 4-3-1-2 is what is being planned with Lionel Messi playing as a central attacking midfielder just behind Luis Suarez and probably Harry Kane.