Last month, Atletico Madrid confirmed Antoine Griezmann wants to leave the club in the summer transfer window.
The World Cup winner has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona, while the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City have already ruled out the possibility of signing him.
His release clause is set at €200m and the figure will drop down to €120m from July 1st, which is why the France international’s move to a new club is still not concluded.
Neymar has been linked with a return to the Camp Nou, and ever since Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser al-Khelaïfi gave an interview France Football, the reports of Griezmann to Barca have dropped drastically in the Catalan media.
Journalist Miguel Rico, writing on the last page of Mundo Deportivo, takes a look at the situation and which player the Spanish champions’ manager Ernesto Valverde would prefer.
He claims the former Athletic Club Bilbao boss has ‘blessed’ the 28-year-old, who has convinced him, which is why the coach wants Griezmann. He has never asked his employer to bring Neymar back to the club.
During Valverde’s first preseason with the Catalan club, the ex-Santos star left Barca for PSG.
Even during a meeting with general manager Pep Segura and technical secretary Eric Abidal, Valverde has never asked for the South American. He likes the Atletico star and there is no evidence the manager has asked for Neymar. 
Valverde is in the market for a forward who can play on the left side of the attack and as a No 9, and Griezmann fits the bill.
It remains to be seen if Barca will go as per their initial plan and sign Griezmann or snub him to bring Neymar from PSG in the summer transfer window.
