Search icon

Football

31st Aug 2021

Barcelona to replace Antoine Griezmann with former Newcastle flop Luuk de Jong

Reuben Pinder

Barcelona’s woes continue

As if it wasn’t bad enough that Barcelona paid Atlético Madrid €120 million for a player unsuited to their style of play.

As if it wasn’t bad enough that the transfer compounded their existing financial woes, leaving them no option but to effectively gift Luis Suarez to the same club for free.

As if it wasn’t bad enough that Atlético then went on to win La Liga with Suarez leading the line. As if it wasn’t bad enough that Barcelona’s financial misery deepened, leading them to lose their greatest ever player against their – and his – will.

As if it wasn’t bad enough that they then found themselves in such a financially desperate position that they had to loan Griezmann back to Atlético (now Spanish champions) with a €40m option to buy. As if all that wasn’t bad enough.

They’re now replacing him with Luuk de Jong. Yes, the former Newcastle striker, currently at Sevilla.

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Barcelona are working to secure a deal for the Dutchman in the final hours of the window to replace Griezmann, having already signed two number nines this summer in Memphis Depay and Sergio Aguero. At this point, Barcelona could sign Andy Carroll on a free and it wouldn’t come as much of a surprise.

Atlético Madrid now have the strongest squad in La Liga, even with Saul heading to Chelsea on loan, while Barcelona’s financial desperation is leveraged against them. Mess que un club.