Barcelona target rejects Leo Messi’s plea of asking him to join

Barcelona’s transfer ambitions have taken a massive hilt after one of their prime targets has flatly said no. He wants to taste new pastures, but not with Messi.

Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann is thought to be on the move during the summer after his side were once again knocked out of the Champions League in an embarrassing way as well as a familiar man in Cristiano Ronaldo. The French forward wants to win trophies as he enters the peak of his career and a move to Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United has been spoken of over the last few years.

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While Griezmann did stay put to Atletico after all the drama and confusion which he caused, especially last year, Barcelona could be in the market looking for him and more so after Philippe Coutinho’s proposed departure. That said, Leo Messi feels that he could fit in perfectly into the squad as well as be a supplement of Luis Suarez in the next few years. However, the Argentina international has had his request to Antoine rejected.

Antoine Griezmann’s idea is now to wait for Paris Saint-Germain to make a move for him. The Parisians are expected to part ways with Edinson Cavani now, whereas either of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe could be set to wave goodbye to the club after the French champions could be sanctioned by the UEFA over Financial Fair Play. Griezmann is looking to head to his home country.

The deciding factor in the World Cup winner’s mind could be the domestic trophies which Paris Saint-Germain are always favourite to win, despite their reputation of being total bottlers on the continental front. Moreover, Griezmann can earn a truckload of money by playing for Paris, that too in his home country. What seems clear now is that he could be on his way out Atletico Madrid.

Meanwhile, Barcelona’s attention is expected to be turning towards signing somebody else. Luka Jovic is a name that is being though of lately. The Serbian has taken the Bundesliga by a storm this season. Valencia’s Rodrigo Moreno continues to be a player who is linked with Barcelona, but Leo Messi doesn’t want him at the club either. Therefore, Jovic seems to be the man to go for at the moment.

If not Luka Jovic, who are the other strike options which should be considered by Barcelona?