When the coronavirus pandemic subsided sufficiently for Barcelona to return to coaching in Could 2020, there was a shock in retailer for Antoine Griezmann.
With everybody nonetheless sporting masks, and all of the cones and footballs being sterilized earlier than classes, the gamers had been designated small coaching teams and it was teenager Ansu Fati who had been grouped with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, and never Griezmann.
Not being requested to coach with the opposite two may appear to be a minor element however at a time when Messi was nonetheless the authority on the membership it was important. It was the form of factor the Argentine may have modified if he wished to. Griezmann yearned for the kind of acceptance from Messi that Neymar had obtained earlier than him, however it was by no means forthcoming.
Issues did not fairly work out between Antoine Griezmann (L) and Lionel Messi (R) at Barcelona
Griezmann by no means fairly earned Messi’s respect in the identical approach Neymar did on the Nou Camp
There was a contradiction on the coronary heart of his time at Barcelona – he had been anticipated to exchange Neymar and type a brand new ‘three amigos’ ahead line with Suarez and Messi, however he was by no means actually revered in fairly the identical approach.
On Sunday he may destroy the completely happy ending to Messi’s worldwide profession and win his second World Cup. He may take participant of the event forward of him too. The pair will embrace submit sport no matter occurs however the Frenchman might be forgiven feeling vindicated if he does come out on prime.
It wasn’t private. Luis Suarez has been Griezmann’s best ally on the membership serving to him settle in, and that meant at occasions Griezmann did see Messi away from the pitch the place the connection was cordial.
The France star (L) will face off in opposition to the Argentina legend (R) in Sunday’s World Cup remaining
Barcelona put Ansu Fati alongside Suarez and Messi in coaching classes relatively than Griezmann
Past Suarez and Arturo Vidal, Messi had no deep friendship with anybody on the membership post-Neymar so Griezmann was no outlier in that sense. However it was on the pitch and on the coaching floor the place it generally felt all too clear that Messi was not enamoured.
He had taken the then-17-year-old Fati beneath his wing, seeing his youth and vibrancy as a greater guess for the third piece of Barcelona’s ahead line jigsaw.
Griezmann lacked the tempo and direct working to open house up for the opposite two. He had by no means been that kind of winger in his youthful days and even much less so within the latter a part of his profession.
Messi (R), Neymar (C) and Luis Suarez (L) cast a devastating trio earlier than the Brazilian’s exit
Neymar left Barcelona to hitch Paris Saint-Germain for a record-breaking charge of £198m in 2017
It seems working a midfield marathon fits him way over being the sprinting broad ahead and Barcelona’s failure to see him as a midfield possibility is one other big cause for his unsuccessful time on the membership.
There was a monumental failure to assume outdoors the field by successive coaches. Why may they not see what Didier Deschamps subsequently noticed?
The Barcelona squad on the time lacked choices in the midst of the pitch. Sergio Busquets was already fading, Frenkie de Jong had nonetheless not tailored, and it was clear Miralem Pjanic was not the answer.
The Frenchman will hope to spoil Messi’s remaining likelihood of successful the World Cup on Sunday
Griezmann’s struggles on the Nou Camp
Profession stats for Atletico Madrid
Matches: 314
Objectives: 147
Assists: 62
Honours: Participant of the 12 months (15/16), Europa League (17/18), UEFA Tremendous Cup (18/19), Spanish Tremendous Cup (14/15)
Profession stats for Barcelona
Matches: 102
Objectives: 35
Assists: 17
Honours: Spanish Tremendous Cup (20/21)
His ill-fated spell at Barcelona ended with the ahead returning to Atletico Madrid
Pedri was but to emerge and Gavi was nonetheless in class, the Griezmann possibility screamed out.
He had the work ethic, he had the all-round sport, he had the self-discipline and sacrifice however even supposing he was open to the choice, not one of the three coaches who managed him tried it.
Messi left Barcelona in 2021 after which it actually was different elements impeding Griezmann making it on the membership. He lacked the dominant persona to grab the crown.
His laid-back low-key character is ideal for a squad like France’s that doesn’t want any extra roosters within the hen home.
However what Barca wanted within the wake of Messi’s departure was somebody to take cost. They wanted somebody like Kylian Mbappe who Griezmann now provides within the nationwide crew.
Sunday’s remaining is being billed as Messi in opposition to Mbappe and that may swimsuit Griezmann tremendous.
The primary time he scored a aim on the Camp Nou he managed a brace and celebrated the second by working to a prepped steward who handed him some glitter which he then preceded to throw within the air. It was a reasonably lame try at showmanship and it was not repeated.
Now Griezmann is the midfield artisan who leaves the highlight for others. Profitable trophies issues much more and if France are victorious on Sunday he could properly win participant of the event too – that might be big, particularly on the expense of the legend who he simply couldn’t bond with at Barcelona.
Didier Deschamps has deployed the 31-year-old as a midfielder all through the event
