Koeman reveals why he issued Griezmann and Emerson sales

When asked about why he decided to agree on selling Antoine Griezmann and Emerson late into the summer transfer window, Ronald Koeman told Mundo Deportivo: “Griezmann had a huge contract and if he left he would help improve the economic situation of the club. That's why I agreed to his exit.

“Emerson? I told the club that if it is important money, he can be sold because we have Dest, Mingueza and even Sergi Roberto.”

Emerson was sold to Tottenham Hotspur for around €25m, even though the player was himself upset to be sold in the same summer he returned to Barca.

Griezmann has been loaned to Atletico Madrid with the option to buy, but it’s unlikely that he’ll ever don the jersey of Barca in future.