Barcelona take big step towards securing €100m marquee signing, key meeting held

Atletico Madrid
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Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu has reportedly met Antoine Griezmann’s family for dinner in a bid to move closer to signing him next summer.

The 26-year-old endured a slow start to the campaign amid ongoing speculation over his future, but he now has seven goals and five assists in 19 appearances in all competitions.

With the La Liga title and Europa League now on their agenda, it remains to be seen whether or not he can make this season a success, but ultimately talk over his next move refuses to go away.

According to Mundo Deportivo, as also seen on their front-page on Sunday in the tweet below, Barca chief Bartomeu has met with his family in the city to discuss a possible move to the Catalan giants at the end of the season.

Importantly, it’s noted in the report that the meeting was to establish an agreement between the two parties with Barcelona expected to inform their La Liga rivals that they will meet Griezmann’s €100m release clause.

Further, the Frenchman’s sister was present, and given she represents him and looks after his career off the pitch, that has to also be seen as a crucial factor in this development.

As a result, it looks as though Barca are really pressing ahead with what would be a marquee signing of a world-class player, but it does raise a question mark at the same time too.

With Luis Suarez, Ousmane Dembele and of course Lionel Messi to slot into the line-up as well, where does Griezmann fit in for Ernesto Valverde?

Will he be able to find a system that uses the quartet, or will there be serious competition for places with Griezmann eyed as a long-term piece with Suarez and Messi on the wrong side of 30? If the opportunity to sign Griezmann is there though, Barcelona must take it and it sounds as though they’re well on the way to doing so based on the report above.

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