The coach himself wants him to stay because of his quality, but put the decision to Laporta.
You think Koeman should be instructed to bench a player he likes? This is the opposite of arguments you made in the past!!
He is bad transfer because of his fit to Messi and the price tag, and he isn't just a hard worker.
We are legally bind to give him his full salary and there is literally nothing we can do if he decided he wants his money.
And we don't know if players salary is halved or not btw, we only know that Pique accepted to lower his salary and I am not sure who is the "co" you are speaking about? We know current players already rejected that with the exception of FDJ and Lenglet.
Pique is from a very wealthy family, dating a very wealthy women, already made ton shitload of money and already has very successful businesses outside of football. All while being a club legend who has ambitions with the club (either follow his grandfather footsteps and be part of future board, or use his ties to the club to the profit of his business. This are the easiest to negotiate with.
Griezmann has non of this, the claim that his salary will be significantly reduced has no basis.
What maneuvering did he do? The only rumors started from Atletico side. There are interest there, and it came in same day it is already said that him staying equals no Messi. We will have to choose between either of them.
Barca simply has zero leverage and he knows that, and he owns us nothing. You want me to leave then it is on my own terms especially if it means a financial loss that I am not legally bind to.
Happened with Suarez, happened with Rakitic, happened with Vidal. And all 3 had just 1 year left in contract.
Saul is a player who has no shortage of offers, at his worst he is a 3 years younger version of S.Roberto ?(but left footed) and at is best he was one of the most exciting midfielders to have.
1) Koeman never liked Griezzy that much. He played him given there were no other options last season simply put.
Look at his recent interview, he sidestepped the question on Griezman's future, answering that the prioriy is Messi to stay.
That is telling
Even if he ends up staying, it is already leaked everywhere that Koeman with have Messi-Depay as creators behind either Ansu or Kun.
Bench-warming will be for Griezzy-boy
PS: I am not in favor of any president instructing a coach to bench anyone.
But that's different discussion.
2) He isn't just a hard-worker, but his qualities do not fit at Barca and the football played here anyway:
i have explained it in the past. He only fits counter-attacking teams like Atleti and France that give him on the top of that full positional freedom
3)'Co' is the old core: Busi, Alba, and Roberto (if he stays)
But more players will agree to it, like FDJ and Lenglet did.
It's not only Pique, but Pique was the first to send the signal that 'we are cooperating with Laporta on this', unlike the signal sent when Barto wanted to cut wages.
Technically what you write about legal binding is correct.
But that's only one side of it, and maybe not the most important.
Clubs have power that go beyond the contract. They can 'force' players to do things.
And now, since Laporta told everybody that our wage bill is 3 or 4 times what it should be, the message is clear for everyone: "Either you reduce your wage, or good-bye"
There are many things to lose if a player plays hard-ball here, from his reputation to his playing-time to his career trajectory overall.
Only finished cases, like Umtiti, want to ride on a contract.
But even with him pay attention to how it will end. If he does not agree to a loan/sale this summer, he will get his contract terminated unilaterally (as leaked some days ago), and his only solution will be to go to FIFA and wait some years for a decision.
Meanwhile, he would not be able to join another club with court case pending, he would not be getting paid from Barca, and his career will be eventually over in the worst possible way.
Even a free-rider like Umtiti will think twice to follow down that route.
4) not exactly.
True that clubs know we are cash-ridden and want to sell.
That does not mean we are obliged to accept fodder of other teams.
Swap has to work for both clubs.
Plus,
Griezman has still a market value of 60-80m, contrary to all 3 of Suarez, Vidal, Raki, whose value combined last summer would not exceed 20-5m maybe
PSG or City can buy him. I bet both can get interested if we identify a player in their squad that we are interested in.
Remember also that none of Suarez, Vidal, Raki wanted to go.
The decision to leave was not theirs.
What happened not on Barca's terms was the transfer fee and that was not on players' terms, but on the buying club's terms
5) Think about why Simeone is Ok with letting him go.
Remember how not OK he was with Griezman leaving back then.
