KAZAN: After Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann announced his decision to stay at the Spanish club, FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu couldnt contain his emotions at the thought of losing the French star.
Details of Griezmann's aborted transfer from Atletico to Barcelona, who were ready to pay 100 million euros ($116.215 million) for the player, have been revealed by the Catalan club's star Gerard Pique, reports Sputnik news agency.
The Spanish centre-back spoke to the press following one of the most intense matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup with Portugal, commenting on Griezmann's revelation.
The French player announced he's not moving to Barcelona despite a generous offer in a documentary, which Pique proposed to do after Griezmann told him that there was the possibility of coming to Barca.
"They are doing everything possible to make sure the team keeps growing. It's incredible. I can't take it anymore, I need to tell the people that I want to stay," Griezmann said in the film.
The revelation more than disappointed Barcelona's president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
"I called Bartomeu and he was p***ed off because he wanted to sign Griezmann," Pique said after the match with Portugal.