Antoine Griezmann was 'not the player Barcelona needed' and didn't fit into their system, admits president Joan Laporta after the player was sent back to former club Atletico Madrid on loan.
Griezmann had lofty expectations on his shoulders after joining for a £108million fee in 2019, but was never as prolific for the Catalan outfit as he was in Madrid, and struggled to impress at times alongside Lionel Messi.
He still managed to fire in 35 goals from 102 games, including 20 in all competitions last season, but never became an indispensible member of the team and the club became eager to cut his staggering £300,000 a week salary off their wage bill amid their ongoing financial crisis.
Speaking to TV station Onze, Laporta said the move ultimately didn't work out but said he could not fault Griezmann's attitude and hailed him as a 'great player'.
'I think that everyone was expecting more from him, because he gave everything and didn't have a questionable attitude,' he said.
'We know what kind of player he was and is, he's a great player. I think he didn't fit in our system, but I think he showed a very good attitude. I sent him a message wishing him well, because he's always had the correct attitude.
'In footballing terms he wasn't the player we needed. He scored goals – I think the one he scored in last year's Copa del Rey that we won was very important – but it's true that he could have given more. But he was under difficult circumstances.'
