Barcelona chiefs have been persuaded to move for Antoine Griezmann this summer after their Champions League humiliation by Liverpool .
World Cup winner Griezmann has announced that he is leaving Atletico Madrid this summer after five years with the club.
The France forward met with manager Diego Simeone and chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin on Tuesday to confirm that he would pay his €120million release clause on July 1, allowing him to move elsewhere.
He subsequently announced publicly on that he had elected to leave the Wanda Metropolitano, declaring: "It's been an incredible five years. Thank you very much for everything, I take you in the heart.”
Antoine Griezmann confirms he is leaving Atletico Madrid this summer
Now, 12 months after rejecting a switch to Camp Nou, Griezmann looks set to move to the Spanish champions - despite bosses having been furious with the events that led to him staying with Atleti last summer.
Griezmann had expected to move to Catalunya in 2018, but announced on Spanish TV in a programme called ‘The Decision’ that he was rejecting a €100million switch.
That was a cause of consternation at Barca, with Gerard Pique’s production company having been behind the show, and with club chiefs extremely unhappy at Griezmann’s antics.
There have also been suggestions that a number of players in the Barcelona squad looked on the saga less than favourably.
What Antoine Griezmann transfer means for Philippe Coutinho's future at Barcelona
However, that appears to have all been pushed to one side after Barca’s Champions League failure, with the club ready to bankroll big signings this summer in a bid to win Europe’s premier club prize next term; Lionel Messi has made a fifth Champions League crown his primary aim before retirement.
Barca bosses had made a backup to Luis Suarez, now 32, one of their summer targets - along with the big-money signings of Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt.
But the loss to Liverpool has led to a rethink, with the club’s inability to net what would have been a crucial away goal, and an increased over-reliance of Messi this term, leading the club back to Griezmann.
Messi, 32 this summer, scored 48 goals and assisted another 22 this term but was unable to lead the club to victory at Anfield as Barca collapsed in their semi-final second leg.
Barca will need to sell to fund a switch for Griezmann.
Andre Gomes, on loan at Everton , and Samuel Umtiti are set to leave, while Philippe Coutinho is also likely to be sold - if they receive an offer in excess of £90million.
