Japan: 'I really want to start playing' Griezmann ahead of pre-season Rakuten Cup

M/S Barcelona FC Football players, Antoine Griezmann and Ivan Rakitic entering press conference, Saitama
W/S Barcelona FC Football players, Antoine Griezmann and Ivan Rakitic at press conference
SOT, Antoine Griezmann, Barcelona FC forward (Spanish): "Well, I'm very happy to be here in this club. As I said before, I really want to start playing. I did my best regarding Cholo (Diego Simeone, Atletico de Madrid coach), my ex-companions and the club to get it [leaving Atletico Madrid] right, and well, now it's up to them. I am very calm and as I said, now the only thing that matters to me is to start playing with Barca, which is the most important thing for me."
C/U Journalists *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Antoine Griezmann, Barcelona FC forward (Spanish): "Well yes, it gets to the ears, because it's a club where I gave everything, where I always went head-on, but I'm very calm. I did things the way I had to do them and the only thing that worries me now is to get into the Mister's tactics, be good with my teammates and play and enjoy football."
W/S Journalists at press conference *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Ivan Rakitic, Barcelona FC attacking midfielder (Spanish): "Well first of all it will be very special to play against them, even a little weird, right? Because until recently they have been part of the team, part of the showers and now we have to face them, it will be good ... I think we will have both parties enjoying the game, it will be a very difficult game. They know us very well, besides they will surely want to have a good match. Well, we will try to fight, playing against Andres in particular will be very strange for me because he is one of the best friends I have in football."
C/U Journalists *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Ivan Rakitic, Barcelona FC attacking midfielder (Spanish): "The same thing happens to me a little, I've talked a little bit with the club, also with the Mister. My idea and the idea of the club is the same. My idea is to continue [playing] in the Barca [team], but we will be open as always for everything. My idea is very clear, I have here more years of contract and then what I want is to continue enjoying the club and try to give the best of me."
C/U Camera *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Ivan Rakitic, Barcelona FC attacking midfielder (Spanish): "I think that if we want to be hard on ourselves, we are going to look back, and we have to look forward, be positive, trust. What I am very certain of is that next season we will be better than the previous season, and we want to demonstrate it from the first day."
W/S Barcelona FC Football players, Antoine Griezmann and Ivan Rakitic at press conference
W/S FC Barcelona players training
W/S FC Barcelona players training
M/S Griezmann training
M/S FC Barcelona player Gerard Pique training
W/S FC Barcelona players training
C/U FC Barcelona player Frenkie de Jong training
M/S FC Barcelona players training
SCRIPT
Barcelona Football Club's newest addition, Antoine Griezmann and midfielder, Ivan Rakitic, held a press conference ahead of pre-season Rakuten Cup in the Japanese city of Saitama on Monday.
Both players were seen expectant about the game against Chelsea, and addressed the press in topics regarding Griezmann's transfer to Barcelona and rumours about Rakitic leaving the team.
Griezmann has been in the eye of the storm since the 'Blaugrana' team bought his transfer from Atletico Madrid for €80 million less than the alleged stipulated price of the negotiation, and is demanding Barcelona to pay in full.
"I really want to start playing" said Griezmann.
"I did things the way I had to do them and the only thing that worries me now is to get into the Mister's tactics, be good with my teammates and play and enjoy football", he added.
Barcelona FC, directed by Ernesto Valverde, is scheduled to face Chelsea on a friendly match at the Saitama Stadium on July 23.