Griezmann: 'I'm very excited about this new challenge'
Following his official presentation, new FC Barcelona striker Antoine Griezmann gave his first press conference for the media gathered at the Camp Nou on Sunday evening. The Frenchman underlined his ambition and desire to make an impact at the club.
"I want to be an important player at this great club, and I will try to win LaLiga, as well as the Copa del Rey and the Champions League -the trophies missing from my curriculum," he explained to journalists.
Griezmann also explained his reasons for making the move to FC Barcelona: "It's always difficult to leave somewhere in which you are comfortable. I have a lot of admiration and respect for Atletico Madrid, and I gave my all for them, right to the end. However, now I want a new challenge, I want to better myself and step out of my comfort zone."
“Messi is a legend”
Asked about the opportunity to have Leo Messi as a teammate, the forward said that “I'm very happy. It's a joy for me to play alongside him. He is the number one player for me, like Lebron James in the NBA. He is someone that every player can look up to, and he will be a legend to my children -and my children's children in the future."
"I've worked hard to be an important player in every position. I can play on the left, the right or in the middle, but the only thing that matters is doing well in order to help the team," he stated when talking about his position on the field of play, adding that "I offer passing play, assists, goals and joy in my game."
Bartomeu: "It hasn't been easy to bring Griezmann here"
FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu also spoke in the press conference, saying "He is a player whom we have wanted to incorporate into the team for a while. It hasn't been easy to bring him here, but we try to improve the team every year, and with the signing of Griezmann the team will take an important step up."
"We had to pay his buyout clause. We have requested a loan of 35 million euros, to be repaid over 6 months, and the other 85 million came from payments that we were waiting to receive."