Alejandro Moreno talks about the importance of Antoine Griezmann if Barcelona wants to be successful in this season's football. (1:35).
Why Barcelona can't afford Griezmann missing during matches (1.35)
Multiple sources confirm to ESPN that Barcelona has opened negotiations with Atletico Madrid for a swap agreement involving Joao Felix as well as Antoine Griezmann.
Barca's offer to Felix on loan Monday was rejected by Atletico, who then returned Tuesday with a proposal that included Griezmann.
Jorge Mendes, Felix's agent is acting as an intermediary in these talks. Sources close to Griezmann informed ESPN that a return to Atletico was not impossible.
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Sources told ESPN that Felix would not be able to leave the club at this point in time because coach Diego Simeone doesn't want to lose him. Atletico would, however, be open to the possibility of reopening talks about exchanging Saul Niguez, a midfielder, for Griezmann.
ESPN was informed by sources that Barca wouldn't want Griezmann to go unless it could be certain that another forward would come in.
ESPN reported earlier this summer that talks had been held between the clubs over a possible swap deal involving Saul & Griezmann. The differences in the valuations of both players led to those talks being canceled.
Griezmann expressed interest in returning to Atletico. He had left Barcelona in 2019 for a fee around 120 million.
Simeone wants to work again with Griezmann, but sources suggest that this is not at Felix's expense. Simeone was the forward for France, aged 30, and he scored 133 goals in 257 games.
Felix, 21 years old, joined Atletico in Griezmann's place. He signed for 126m from Benfica, a Portuguese side. In two seasons with the Wanda Metropolitano, he has scored 19 goals in 76 matches.
Chelsea has shown interest in Saul as well. ESPN reported last week that Atletico approached them about a season-long loan deal with the option of making the agreement permanent. Manchester United has also expressed an interest.
Barca's summer activity in the transfer window has been restricted by their financial difficulties. Joan Laporta, President of Barca, recently revealed that their gross debt is 1.35 billion. Eric Garcia, Memphis Depay, Sergio Aguero and Memphis Depay all arrived with free transfers. Emerson Royal, the 9m signing, will join Tottenham on Tuesday in an agreement worth up to 30m.
Ilaix Moriba, a young midfielder, is set to join RB Leipzig before the transfer window closes at 20m.
Lionel Messi and Junior Firpo as well as Francisco Trincao, Konrad de la Fuente, and Francisco Trincao are just a few of the players who left this summer. Coach Ronald Koeman asked for another forward.
