After disappointingly leaving Barcelona in 2021, Lionel Messi is currently in the final year of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain and has been strongly linked with a possible return to the club next summer.
In order to keep him at Parc des Princes past the summer of 2023, PSG intends to extend his current contract. However, the French champs are preparing backup plans involving yet another Barça player in case the Argentine superstar decides to part ways.
In fact, according to Futbol Total, PSG is planning a summer bid for Antoine Griezmann, who is now on loan from Barcelona to Atletico Madrid, to replace Messi.
The Parisian giants are prepared to offer the French international a staggering salary of approximately €35–40 million (gross) every season in order to entice him back to his country before the start of the upcoming season.
Since the previous campaign, Griezmann has been on loan at Atletico. Should he appear for at least 45 minutes in more than 50% of the games he is available for, throughout the course of the two seasons, the Rojiblancos are required to pay €40 million and sign him permanently the following summer.
While Atletico wants to keep him, they are hesitant to match the €40 million price tag. As a result, they have only used him for 30 minutes or fewer per game this season in an effort to find a way to avoid making the required acquisition.
Barcelona had considered suing Atletico Madrid for their tactics, but the Rojiblancos’ treatment of the 2018 FIFA World Cup champion does not violate any laws.
But if PSG were to enter the picture, a lot of things might change. Even though the following summer’s transfer season is still a ways off, Griezmann’s predicament might make a big splash when it does.
