Antoine Griezmann Lost Sleep over 'Difficult' Decision to Snub Barcelona

Antoine Griezmann has admitted he lost sleep over his summer decision to remain at Atletico Madrid rather than join Barcelona. 

He ended up signing a new contract at the Wanda Metropolitano, but he said it was a real challenge to decide between the two clubs, per Telefoot (h/t ESPN FC's Ian Holyman):

"There were times when I wasn't feeling good. I spoke about it with my wife. I woke her up at three in the morning and asked her, 'What are we going to do?' Because I tried to talk about it, but she can't help me, she doesn't know what I'm thinking. My parents, either. Some members of my family wanted to see me [at Barcelona], others no, so it was difficult."

Griezmann, 27, has been Atleti's most important attacking player for the best part of four years since he joined the club from Real Sociedad in 2014.

He has been the club's top scorer in each of the last four campaigns and netted in every knockout round as the Madrid outfit won the UEFA Europa League last term:

Diego Simeone's side dropped into Europe's second-tier competition after finishing third behind Roma and Chelsea in Group C of the UEFA Champions League.

Griezmann said Atletico are eager to improve on their poor performance last term and took much of the responsibility for his side's failure, per Telefoot (h/t Holyman): "In the Champions League, we want to do better than we did last year when we weren't able to get past the last 16. I think that it was mostly my fault because I wasn't good mentally, and in the league, as usual, to challenge [Barcelona and Real Madrid]."

Atletico have been largely a potent force in the Champions League in recent years, their staunch defence often proving its worth many times over against the best opposition in Europe.

They have reached two finals in the last five seasons, as well as a semi-final and a quarter-final.

Simeone and Griezmann will hope last term ends up being an aberration. Atleti opened their 2018-19 Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win at Monaco last week, and they will also face Borussia Dortmund and Club Brugge in Group A.