DBasia.news – The new Barcelona coach, Ronald Koeman, will maximize Antoine Griezmann to become a mainstay player if the Blaugrana captain Lionel Messi leaves Camp Nou.
As reported by L’Equipe, quoted by Tribal Football, Friday (28/8) Koeman met the French striker and convinced him to stay at Barca and become the leader of the club’s dressing room nicknamed Los Cules.
With Luis Suarez expected to lift his suitcase from the Estadio Camp Nou, Messi made a transfer request. Koeman told Griezmann that he plans to emulate the role he had at Atletico Madrid with Barca.
“You did well at Atletico Madrid, and you will also do it at Barcelona,” said Koeman as quoted by L’Equipe.
Meanwhile, Griezmann admitted that he was very happy with the convincing and excited chat about the upcoming season.
Furthermore, Koeman claimed that he asked Philippe Coutinho to remove the jersey number seven, so that Griezmann would later use it.