Antoine Griezmann’s departure from Barcelona in the last transfer season was quite surprising. The reason, Barca has been abandoned by Lionel Messi. After Messi’s left, Griezmann’s role can be improved. Even Griezmann can play a role like Messi did before. After all, Griezmann had “confessed” that his role at Barca was somewhat less free than in the national team.
The limitations of the role can not be separated from the existence of Messi. So, Messi’s departure could be a blessing for Griezmann because he can play the role he wants. However, the club chose to loan Griezmann. The club’s financial problems became one of the motives for this Barca move.
Even more surprising when Barca loaned the French national team player to his former club which is also Barca’s rivals in Spanish La Liga. Atlético Madrid. Barca looks not to learn from the experience of last season, where Barca let Luis Suarez go to Atletico Madrid. Suarez became an important part of Atletico’s achievements last season.
Even in several matches, Suarez not only broke the deadlock for the team, but also provided important points for Atletico’s path to the Spanish La Liga champions stage. This step also makes Barca fans have to bite their fingers. Regret arose. The club’s management has been criticized for allowing one of the dangerous strikers to move to a rival team in Spain’s La Liga.
The general principle is that it doesn’t matter if a player, especially a star player, moves on. Which becomes a problem when they are sold to a strong rival club in a competition. What power, the rice has become porridge. Suarez did not dim when he was in Atlético’s uniform, even though his productivity still occurred. Suarez has become an important mainstay for Diego Simeone up front, and Suarez has even marginalized Diego Costa’s role up front.
Suarez’s role and influence should be a lesson for Barca. In which case, it is no longer allowed to give players to rival clubs because it can actually become a stumbling block for the team itself. However, Barca does not seem to learn from past experiences. Griezmann was loaned out in the final minutes of the transfer season to Atletico.
This loan could be a stumbling block for Barca, which is temporarily unstable due to the club’s financial condition. Perhaps, Griezmann’s appearance not only taught Barca a lesson but put Barca into a slump in the Spanish La Liga competition. Although Griezmann is on loan, the issue of competition between clubs is very difficult to avoid. Moreover, Griezmann was once in Atlético’s uniform. The bond between the player and the club is definitely still there.
This can be used by Simeone to empower Griezmann’s influence and at the same time increase his role with Luis Suarez and Joao Felix up front. It can be said that Griezmann’s presence strengthens Atletico’s front line. Even with that, teams like Barca or Real Madrid must be vigilant when dealing with D. Simeone’s foster children.
Griezmann may be underestimated for failing to give his best performance since being in the Blaugrana uniform. However, Barca need to be aware that Griezmann’s brilliant performance occurred while in Atletico Madrid’s uniform. Atletico is a suitable habitat for Griezmann’s qualities. This is a serious threat from Griezmann for Barca.
In addition, the threat of Griezmann’s departure to Atletico is even more evident when considering his performance with the French national team when playing against Finland. The 30-year-old scored 2 goals for France’s 2-0 victory. These 2 goals not only put Griezmann in the ranks of one of the top scorers for the French national team players, but this seemed to remind Barca of his departure to Atletico.
For Griezmann, returning to Atletico is similar to returning to your own home. Of course, there is comfort that has never been created before. That comfort can be a stimulus for Griezmann to bring out his best performance. Griezmann’s departure is not only a form of loss for Barca. However, it is a serious threat to Barca in navigating the competition in the Spanish La Liga.
The drama of Luis Suarez who left last season could be repeated by Griezmann. Griezmann will be an antagonist that will hurt Barca while trying to build a team of young squad. Griezmann’s 2 goals against Finland in a World Cup qualifier is a pretty clear message for Barca. Barca’s target to become Spanish La Liga champions could be threatened by Griezmann’s return to Atletico Madrid.
Griezmann’s message from the match against Finland was very clear. He could be a serious threat to thwart Barca’s bid to become Spanish La Liga champions in the 2021/22 competitive season. In the end, the loan move could be a regret in the Barca camp.
ASL
