Antoine Griezmann was all set to join Barcelona last summer, but the forward changed his mind in the end and decided to stay at Atletico Madrid, with whom he also signed new deal.
Since the last international break in March, the World Cup winner has once again been linked with the La Liga winners.
On March 28th, we covered claims from Mundo Deportivo, who explained the France international is ready to take a pay cut to join Ernesto Valverde’s side.
Three days later, the same newspaper reported the Blaugrana technical secretary Eric Abidal held talks with his compatriot as he still remains a ‘serious candidate’ for the Camp Nou outfit.
Barcelona vice-president Jordi Mestre was the guest of Ser Catalunya’s ‘Que t’hi jugues’ and during the course of the show he was asked about Griezmann.
On the Atletico star, Mestre said: “It’s the million-dollar question. We have always said that in the matter of new signings, we want to be discreet and now is not the time.
“When the time comes, from the board of directors, we will talk with the technicians, not just a case, it is an approach of the entire staff, both of inputs and outputs, and then it will be time, but now, we will not speak of any player.”
“His quality is beyond doubt, but another thing is if we interested in his signing and what can be paid for him.” 
Griezmann has a €200m release clause in his contract and the price will come down to €120m on July 1st. Mestre says money should not be an issue for Barcelona to complete a big transfer.
“We will find it. We have an artist of numbers, our CEO Òscar Grau, who will squeeze it,” Mestre added.
