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Antoine Griezmann 'had decided to leave Barcelona before Ronald Koeman talks'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 28 August 2020

Griezmann 'wanted to leave Barcelona before Koeman talks'

Antoine Griezmann's former agent claims that the France international wanted to leave Barcelona before being reassured of his future role by new boss Ronald Koeman.

Antoine Griezmann had reportedly decided that he wanted to leave Barcelona before holding talks with new manager Ronald Koeman.

The Frenchman endured an underwhelming debut season at Camp Nou following his £108m switch from Atletico Madrid last summer, completing the full 90 minutes just 19 times and managing 15 goals in 48 appearances.

However, Koeman has reportedly told Griezmann that he plans to build his new-look team around him, particularly if Lionel Messi leaves after handing in a transfer request.

The World Cup winner's former agent Eric Olhats claims that Griezmann wanted to leave the club prior to their 8-2 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich, but is now happy to stay after Koeman replaced Quique Setien.

"Before the disaster versus Bayern, Antoine wanted one thing: to leave," Olhats told RMC Sport.

"He felt like he was no longer part of the plan, that things couldn't continue like that.

"He was seriously looking at it. Then, there was what we know happened and a conversation with Koeman reassured him, that he was part of his plans, that he considered him as an important player for the future."

Griezmann was recently named by club president Josep Maria Bartomeu as one of the players deemed unsellable this summer.