When Barcelona saw Real Madrid out at the top of the league this week, head coach Quique Setien’s words rang out loud in the ears of those who saw them squirt nearly $ 2 billion in the transfer market in the past six years .
“It’s difficult to get him on without destabilizing the team,” said Setien after a 2-2 draw against Atletico Madrid this week. “I understand that it is difficult for Griezmann to come when there is so little time left. I will speak to him tomorrow [Wednesday]I won’t apologize because [it’s about] Decisions.
“But I understand that he can feel bad and I feel bad for him because he is a great person and professional.”
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Benzema’s breathtaking heel
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It was not only embarrassing for Griezmann – and exacerbated by the fact that it was against his old club that it happened – but it was also embarrassing for the club that their 120 million euros, which he had less than 12 Months ago, couldn’t even get a kick at the moment.
Griezmann’s brother Theo tweeted in response, “I want to cry seriously,” while his father Alain added on Instagram: “To apologize, you first need the truck’s keys, and that’s not the case because he’s just a passenger . “
Even Atletico boss Diego Simeone said he was “without words”.
But the Griezmann situation is just the tip of the iceberg in Barcelona at the moment. The brilliant, though aging, abilities of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez are the only thing stopping them from withering behind the two Madrid giants since they last won the league in 2015.
They won LaLiga three times in the following four seasons, but something in the shadow of Real, who won three consecutive Champions League crowns.
Another thing that was left in the shadows was Barcelona’s extravagant expenses during that time.
Since arriving in Suarez in July 2014, Barca have signed 32 players for permanent contracts worth $ 1.8 billion and tried to replace Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Dani Alves, Neymar and Javier Mascherano.
Arda Turan was signed in a hurry for a presidential election, despite the club being banned from transfer, which meant that he was unable to play for the club for six months. His contract finally expired two days ago. Malcom was bought and sold in one season, while Gerard Deulofeu was sold, bought back and resold.
In addition to Griezmann, Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele also arrived for more than 100 million euros each. The former is now on loan from Bayern Munich and is undesirable, and the latter has spent more time on the treatment table than on the field and is also undesirable.
From WORLDIE to own goal
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Simply put, Barca’s scattergun approach was a mess on the transfer market, and they stared into the void of a black hole.
Given the financial implications of the coronavirus pandemic, which are not yet fully known, reports suggest that Barcelona is trying desperately to match the books with all three players on sale – Messi, goalkeeper Andre Ter Stegen and midfielder Frenkie De Jong bring to.
The Barca boat has too few players to row in the right direction while others are preparing to jump – or be thrown overboard – to prevent it from sinking, and the captain faces the increasing inevitability that he has to walk over the plank.
They worry about what’s next after Barca’s aged 33-year-old couple Messi and Suarez finally slow down.
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