‘He did things right, but…’ – Barcelona icon explains why Antoine Griezmann failed at Barcelona

‘He did things right, but…’ – Barcelona icon explains why Antoine Griezmann failed at Barcelona Antoine Griezmann arrived at Barcelona carrying enormous expectations.  After establishing himself as one of Europe’s best forwards during his first stint with Atletico Madrid, many believed the Frenchman would become a key figure at Camp Nou for years to come. Instead, his spell in Catalonia became one of the most puzzling chapters of his career. Despite producing respectable numbers and showing flashes of his quality, Griezmann never truly looked comfortable in a Barcelona shirt.  Years after his departure, questions still remain about why one of the most complete attackers in world football struggled to replicate his Atlético Madrid form at Barça. Now, former teammate Jordi Alba has offered his own explanation . Jordi Alba identifies the problem Griezmann never settled at Barcelona. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images) Speaking on Mario Suarez’s YouTube channel, as relayed by Mundo Deportivo , Alba reflected on Griezmann’s time at Barcelona and insisted that the Frenchman did everything possible to make the move work. The former Barcelona left-back praised Griezmann’s professionalism and commitment during their time together. “He did things right, you know. He was a very dedicated guy.  “He brought something different to the table because, having worked with Cholo physically, he was always at full throttle. Technically, he was very good,” Alba explained. The Spaniard made it clear that effort and quality were never the issue. Instead, he believes the main problem was that Griezmann simply never found his place within Barcelona’s system. “But, like many players, in the end he didn’t adapt in the best way.” Alba has explained Griezmann’s struggles. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images) It is a view shared by many who watched Griezmann struggle to establish a clear role alongside Lionel Messi and other stars during his two seasons at the club. An unfulfilled dream The most telling part of Alba’s assessment came when discussing what happened after Griezmann left Camp Nou. Following his return to Atletico Madrid, the French forward rediscovered the form that had made him one of the most sought-after players in Europe.  His performances once again became decisive, and he re-established himself as one of Diego Simeone’s most important players. Alba pointed directly to that transformation when he said, “Then he went back to Atlético and became that Griezmann again—the one Barça had set their sights on.”