5 times Barcelona overpaid for a player

#3 Antoine Griezmann - €120 million

Griezmann has now returned to Atletico Madrid

The perfect example of Barcelona's reckless spending in recent times, Antoine Griezmann's €120 million transfer to Camp Nou has put an enormous dent in the club's finances. Having relentlessly pursued his signature the previous year, the Blaugrana achieved success in capturing their target in 2019 for a grossly overpriced fee.

Griezmann was the leading man in a flourishing Atletico Madrid side before his unfortunate switch to Barcelona. Despite their heavy interest in the player, the Catalan giants actually had no predecided plans to incorporate the French superstar into their primary lineup. Subsequently, Griezmann was left stranded on the left flank, with Barcelona failing to unlock the forward's true potential.

In two seasons with his new club, Griezmann could only produce a substandard output of 35 goals and 17 assists. Due to his minimal contribution and astronomical wages, the Frenchman was finally ousted from the club this year, with Barcelona sending him back to Atletico. Having sold him for a whopping €120 million, Los Rojiblancos can now sign him permanently for the cut-price rate next year.

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#2 Ousmane Dembele - €135 million

Dembele is yet to make a single appearance this season

Ousmane Dembele's big-money transfer to Barcelona is the ideal representation of a panic buy in football. Having lost Neymar to PSG for a world-record fee of €222 million in 2017, the Catalans descended into a state of frenzy. As such, they were desperately trying to find a suitable replacement for the outgoing Brazilian.

Impressed by Dembele's return of 10 goals and 22 assists in his solitary season with Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona inexplicably splashed €135 million on him. With the deal having the potential to rise up to €145 million, a lot of expectations were rested on the young shoulders of Dembele.

Despite possessing obvious talent, injuries have mercilessly robbed the 24-year-old of a promising career. Notably, Dembele is currently recovering from the 12th major injury of his Barcelona career. Nevertheless, a fee in excess of €100 million for an unproven youngster could never be deemed a smart decision, and the Spanish giants are yet to recover from this colossal loss.

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#1 Philippe Coutinho - €135 million

Coutinho has little time to rescue his Barcelona career

Arguably the strongest contender for the title of the worst signing in Barcelona's history, Philippe Coutinho's move from England to Spain has massively backfired. The Blaugrana's record signing has failed miserably to settle into life in Catalonia, making him the ideal choice for the top spot on this list.

Purchased during the 2018 winter transfer window, Coutinho was expected to become an instant star at Camp Nou. A key figure at Liverpool, the Brazilian attacker possessed all the makings of a Barcelona player. The stage was set for Coutinho to dazzle the Blaugrana audience with his exceptional creative and dribbling skills.

However, due to inadequate management of the player and a dismal injury record, Coutinho could never find his footing at Camp Nou. A season-long loan spell with Bayern Munich did little to revive his dormant career. With the deal reportedly worth a whopping €160 million (inclusive of add-ons), Barcelona's acquisition of the Brazilian is undoubtedly the most overpriced transfer in the club's history.

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