Griezmann is currently living in Neymar's shadow
Griezmann
The other day at a bullfight, Miguel Ángel Gil was adamant that Griezmann had signed for Barça months ago. Shortly afterwards, Bartomeu came out to say the whole affair was a flight of fancy. Well-informed opinion sticks to the most important detail: few people doubt that Griezmann broke ties with Atlético because he saw himself at Barcelona close to Messi, as an attacking counterweight: if you push forward, I’ll stay back; if you stay back, I’ll push forward. And for Barça, for whom neither Coutinho nor Dembélé have made up for Neymar’s abrupt departure, Griezmann could be the missing piece of the puzzle.
'The Decision'
However, there are a few obstacles standing in the way of a happy ending. One is the nonsensical situation that allowed Griezmann just over a year ago, in cahoots with Piqué, to announce ‘The Decision’, which ended up being another year at Atlético. A decision that annoyed Atlético supporters and riled Barcelona fans. Piqué has managed to sidestep the whole thing and what it means in each game, but Griezmann truly got up the noses of a fanbase that have witnessed Kubala, Cruyff, Maradona and Messi, to name but a few, don their shirt – names to which Griezmann doesn’t really come close. A nonsensical situation that signalled rough seas ahead.
Neymar's past and future
This situation is coupled with PSG becoming sick and tired of Neymar, whose competition with Mbappé is beginning to sour. The Brazilian's questionable actions also threaten to overshadow him becoming one of the players of his generation, yet the Barça fans still remember his exploits at the club and his high points are a good deal higher than Griezmann’s. Therefore, if push comes to shove between the two, the Barça fans will choose the Brazilian. As for Griezmann, Barcelona have done what they have done, or failed to do, but the situation for the Frenchman, as things stand, is enough for him to resent the whole Neymar nostalgia floating around.