Juventus ‘weighing up a move for Antoine Griezmann’ if France star doesn’t agree a £22m move from Barcelona to Atletico Madrid… with the striker frustrated at cameos from the bench this season
- Juventus are reportedly interested in signing Griezmann from Barcelona
- They could swoop if France striker doesn’t agree £22m move to Atletico Madrid
- Griezmann, 31, is currently on a two-year loan at the Wanda Metropolitano
- But his game time has been restricted to avoid triggering a transfer clause
Juventus ‘are preparing a swoop for France striker Antoine Griezmann’ if Atletico Madrid don’t wrap up his permanent signing from Barcelona.
Griezmann, 31, is currently at Atletico on a two-year loan deal but the club have been restricting his game time to avoid an obligation to buy him outright.
The original transfer fee was £35million but reports in recent days have suggested a cut-price £22m deal could soon be finalised.
Antoine Griezmann is reportedly on the radar of Juventus if he doesn’t make permanent his loan spell at Atletico Madrid from Barcelona
The France striker has spent a lot of time warming the bench this season to avoid activating a clause in his loan deal that would oblige Atletico to pay Barcelona £35million
It would end the farce of Atletico manager Diego Simeone only being able to bring Griezmann off the bench after the 60th minute of matches to ensure he doesn’t play in 50 per cent of matches.
However, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus are alert to developments and may pounce to sign the Frenchman, who has scored three goals already this season despite his limited game time.
Juventus are in a poor run of form and are already thinking about reinforcements for January or next summer.
Griezmann’s Barcelona contract expires in 2024 and the Nou Camp club would certainly have to consider selling the striker for less than they’d ideally have hoped.
Griezmann would also have to take a salary cut if he was to move to Serie A.
Griezmann celebrates after scoring in Atletico’s Champions League fixture against Porto
Juventus are already looking at future reinforcements after a lacklustre start to the season
Gazzetta add that Juventus may also look at Marco Asensio and Christian Pulisic as they shop for more bargains following this summer’s arrivals of Paul Pogba and Angel Di Maria.
Juventus have lost both their Champions League group matches so far – to Paris Saint-Germain and Benfica – and their 1-0 loss to Monza before the international fortnight left them languishing eighth in the league.
Griezmann, meanwhile, captained France in their 2-0 defeat to Denmark in the UEFA Nations League on Sunday night.
They finished third in their group, avoiding relegation because Austria were beaten 3-1 by Croatia.
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