According to a recent edition of the Transfer Window Podcast, as quoted by the Daily Express, football transfer expert Duncan Castles has claimed that Manchester United believe they would be able to sign French superstar Antoine Griezmann at a ‘serious bargain’ in the summer.
The report suggests that Manchester United are being linked with the player for the second time after he supposedly came close to a switch to Old Trafford a couple of years ago when the Frenchman was still plying his trade at Atletico Madrid.
What Attributes Do Antoine Griezmann Add To A Team?
The 29-year-old’s development from a young prodigy into one of the highest-rated players in the continent was rapid, to say the least, while his performance levels at Atletico Madrid were completely off the charts. Despite not being overly quick on or off the ball, the World Cup winner boasts one of the complete skill-sets in football at the moment. A sharp passer of the ball, the attacker doesn’t display even a single ounce of selfishness in his playing style.
Although the Frenchman does possess the ability and composure required to out-dribble entire teams, it must be conceded that his humbleness and maturity while out on the pitch are inspirational. Moreover, the striker tends to be a deadly finisher in and around the box, while his ability to see a pass from a distance is second to none too. For all the quality he possesses, it’s safe to say that the Frenchman is yet to bring out his best at the Nou Camp.
What Has Griezmann Added To This Barcelona Side?
The French attacker arrived as a potential replacement for Neymar down the flank and considering the sheer size of the boots he had to fill, its perhaps not overly surprising that Griezmann has found the going to be quite tough. The 29-year-old has struggled to create a place for himself in the squad and continues to look toothless after getting into the final third as well. Despite having the presence of players like Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez alongside in the opening half of the season, the attacker struggled to have an impact.
The Frenchman’s 26 league appearances have yielded just eight goals and four assists so far, while the fact that he’s set to turn 30 next year will be a concern for the Catalan side as well. His statistics since joining the Blaugrana have been extremely questionable too, having registered just one key pass per game up to this point. Although he does take just under two shots on average, the attacker’s conversion rate is quite miserable. Also, the forward tends to take at least one poor touch per fixture.
Should Barcelona Offload Griezmann If They Get A Good Offer?
The Frenchman arrived at the Nou Camp with monstrous expectations already weighing him down, and it’s safe to say that he’s not the same player that we saw at Atletico Madrid for the last many years. Seriously lacking in confidence as well as consistency, it would be astonishing to see the trickster have a real future at Barcelona. The Catalan side had to spend a lot of money to acquire the attacker, and they’ll do well to try and recuperate that in the summer, given that someone among Europe’s elite is interested in his services.
