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Antoine Griezmann 'had decided to leave Barcelona before Ronald Koeman talks'

Griezmann 'wanted to leave Barcelona before Koeman talks'
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Antoine Griezmann's former agent claims that the France international wanted to leave Barcelona before being reassured of his future role by new boss Ronald Koeman.

Antoine Griezmann had reportedly decided that he wanted to leave Barcelona before holding talks with new manager Ronald Koeman.

The Frenchman endured an underwhelming debut season at Camp Nou following his £108m switch from Atletico Madrid last summer, completing the full 90 minutes just 19 times and managing 15 goals in 48 appearances.

However, Koeman has reportedly told Griezmann that he plans to build his new-look team around him, particularly if Lionel Messi leaves after handing in a transfer request.

The World Cup winner's former agent Eric Olhats claims that Griezmann wanted to leave the club prior to their 8-2 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich, but is now happy to stay after Koeman replaced Quique Setien.

"Before the disaster versus Bayern, Antoine wanted one thing: to leave," Olhats told RMC Sport.

"He felt like he was no longer part of the plan, that things couldn't continue like that.

"He was seriously looking at it. Then, there was what we know happened and a conversation with Koeman reassured him, that he was part of his plans, that he considered him as an important player for the future."

Griezmann was recently named by club president Josep Maria Bartomeu as one of the players deemed unsellable this summer.

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Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann celebrates scoring their first goal on February 25, 2020
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
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2Real Madrid16113234132136
3Atletico MadridAtletico16105130111935
4Athletic Bilbao1795326151132
5Villarreal157532725226
6Real Sociedad167361611524
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8Mallorca177371620-424
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11Real BetisBetis165651820-221
12Rayo Vallecano155461516-119
13Sevilla165471723-619
14Las PalmasLas Palmas165382227-518
15Getafe163761113-216
16AlavesAlaves164391827-915
17Leganes163671423-915
18Espanyol1541101528-1313
19Real ValladolidValladolid1733111234-2212
20Valencia152491323-1010


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