Barcelona Legend Alba Explains Why Griezmann Failed At Club

BusinessSportsMoneyBarcelona Legend Alba Explains Why Griezmann Failed At ClubByTom Sanderson,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Tom Sanderson has been primarily based in Barcelona since 2019.Follow AuthorJun 10, 2026, 10:08am EDTFC Barcelona legend Jordi Alba told the 'El camino de Mario' podcast that Antoine Griezmann ultimately failed at the club because he didn't "adapt in the best way".Getty ImagesFC Barcelona legend Jordi Alba told the 'El camino de Mario’ podcast that Antoine Griezmann ultimately failed at the club because he didn't “adapt in the best way”.Grizemann was the Julian Alvarez of his day, in being an Atletico Madrid star player courted by the Blaugrana. After putting the move off for one season with his dramatic ‘The Decision’ documentary put together by Gerard Pique’s production company, he then switched allegiances in a $138.5 million (€120 million) deal in 2019.Just like Philippe Coutinho before him, though, Griezmann failed to gel with Lionel Messi at the Spotify Camp Nou with his high-profile transfer viewed as a failure in retrospect.He returned to the Metropolitano with his tail between his legs in 2021/2022, before then making that move permanent the following campaign. A reported $23 million (€20 million) deal of course left Barça seriously short-changed, for a player they only got two seasons out of.Reflecting on Griezmann’s tenure, Alba offered explanatations as to why the World Cup winner didn’t take off in Blaugrana.“He did things well, you know. He was a very dedicated guy. He gave us something extra, because having worked with [Diego] Simeone, he was always at his physical peak. Technically, he was very good,” Alba said.MORE FOR YOU“But, like many players, they didn’t adapt in the best way in the end . Then he returned to Atletico and became that Griezmann again, the one Barça had their eye on.”ForbesJulian Alvarez Agrees To Join Barcelona On Fi...