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Griezmann reveals he didn't join Barcelona because of Messi

Griezmann reveals he didn't join Barcelona because of Messi

Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann nearly left the Spanish capital in the summer, with Barcelona interested in signing the Frenchman, who helped France lift the World Cup in Russia.
 
Speaking to Canal+, Griezmann revealed why he chose to stay at Atletico instaed of moving to Barcelona:
 
“It was tough, on one side there is Barça who wants you, who calls you, who makes you get messages, both by the players and the family, and then there's the club where you feel good, you're an important player around which a project is built in. They do everything they can to keep me in.
 
“Atletico? See my teammates and especially the coach after a game where they had whistled me. Simeone came to my house by surprise to calm me, talk to me and show me that he had faith in me.
 
“Unconsciously, the fact of becoming the 'lieutenant' of Messi was perhaps to be seen, but my teammates and the club people did everything possible. They came to talk to me, they increased my salary, they did everything possible to show me that Atletico was my home and that I did not need to leave.”
 
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