Barca signed Griezmann in the summer of 2019.
Barca signed Griezmann in the summer of 2019.

A Barcelona star has opened up about the real situation of Antoine Griezmann.

Since becoming one of Barcelona’s most expensive signings in 2019, Griezmann has been a constant subject of controversy and drama at Camp Nou. The World Cup winner was able to improve his game and became a key figure in Barcelona during his second campaign with the Catalans.

However, according to Barca defender Clement Lenglet, Griezmann is being taken for granted.

“Antoine [Griezmann] is a very important player for Barça, who made us change games, especially in the Copa del Rey,” Lenglet told French publication L'Equipe.

“It was a positive season despite everything for Antoine, who is not always judged reasonably,” he concluded. “He has the label of one of the best players in the world and the requirements are very high for him.”

Though Lenglet’s comments could come across as a bold claim to some, Griezmann backed his teammate’s statement in a separate interview with the same outlet.

As per the Frenchman, there were indeed a few times when he was “unhappy” with Barcelona as the club made him feel irrelevant for the first time in his career.

"Yes [I was unhappy at Barcelona],” Griezmann told the French outlet. “When you lose the title, for example, it makes me sad. Also at the beginning of the season, because I wasn't playing, I didn't feel important.”

“I'm used to playing everything - the big games - I find myself on the bench against Real Madrid,” he continued. “It's annoying to see teammates warming up on the pitch while you are next to them. But these are the coach's decisions and I have to accept it and do everything I can to change his mind.”

Lionel Messi is a very influential figure in Barcelona, having been the face of the team for more than a decade now. Though there were rumors claiming Griezmann and Messi don’t see eye to eye, the former assured that he and the six-time Ballon d’Or winner have a great relationship.

"[Our relationship is] good,” the 30-year-old said of Messi as a teammate. “We get along well. We sometimes write messages to each other, we communicate a lot in training.”

"On the pitch, he's obviously a super easy player to play with,” he added. “You send him a melon, he turns it into caviar! We don't have that pressure to miss a pass with him.”

Antoine Griezmann celebrates with Lionel Messi after scoring a sensational chip against Villarreal on Sunday.

Antoine Griezmann with Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba Photo: AFP / JOSE JORDAN