Barcelona and Atletico Madrid agree on a potential swap deal between Griezmann and Saul

La Liga champions Atletico Madrid and FC Barcelona have reached an agreement over a swap deal between Antoine Griezmann and Saul Niguez. This means that Griezmann may join the Spanish Champions once again and Saul will be transferred to the Catalan giants. 

Both the players have given a green light to their respective clubs regarding this deal. Griezmann was roped in by FC Barcelona from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a transfer fee of €120 million and signed a contract till 2024 but it seems like Barcelona is open to sell the Frenchman just after two seasons.

Griezmann had a tough first season at the club and was struggling to make a mark. The player wasn’t given many chances at the club due to the likes of Leo Messi and Luis Suarez on the frontline but this season he managed to bag 13 goals and 7 assists in La Liga and was also instrumental in Barcelona’s Copa Del Rey winning campaign. 

Meanwhile, Saul has been a regular starter in Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid previously but this season, the 26-year-old featured in just 22 league games as Atletico won the La Liga title and completed 90 minutes on just 11 occasions.

Reportedly, he’s looking his way out of the club and it seems like Barcelona is going to be the player’s next destination as Atletico has also signed Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul from the Italian side Udinese. Other than Barcelona, Liverpool and Chelsea are also after the Spaniard’s signature.

Barcelona is facing huge financial turmoil and they are looking forward to offloading some players. Griezmann has also been added to the list which already includes Philippe Coutinho, Miralem Pjanic and Samuel Umtiti and has the second-highest wages after talisman Leo Messi. 

Barcelona is also well-stacked in attack as they have signed Sergio Aguero and Memphis Depay this summer and they already have the likes of Leo Messi and Ansu Fati who’s hoping to return this season after a long injury.