Transfer Centre

Antoine Griezmann 'to take Philippe Coutinho's shirt number at Barcelona'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 12 July 2019

Barcelona reportedly plan to give Antoine Griezmann the number seven shirt currently held by Philippe Coutinho, sparking more speculation over the Brazilian's future.

Barcelona will reportedly hand Antoine Griezmann the number seven shirt currently held by Philippe Coutinho once the Frenchman completes his move to the Camp Nou.

The Spanish champions are understood to have finally triggered Griezmann's £107m release clause after failing to agree terms with Atletico Madrid over a different way to finance the deal.

The World Cup winner is expected to finalise his much-publicised switch in the coming days, and Spanish outlet AS reports that they will hand him Coutinho's number seven shirt.

Such a decision will spark more speculation about the future of Coutinho, who has been heavily linked with a move away from Barcelona following an underwhelming 18 months at the club.

The Brazilian playmaker has been tipped to move back to Liverpool or to be used as a possible makeweight in any deal to bring Neymar back to the Camp Nou from Paris Saint-Germain.

Barcelona's number seven shirt has previously been worn by the likes of Laszlo Kubala, Pep Guardiola, Luis Figo and David Villa.

The report goes on to say that the incoming Frenkie de Jong will wear the number 21 shirt, which Carles Alena currently owns.