Atletico Madrid superstar Antoine Griezmann was one of the most in-demand footballers on the planet.
Then the 26-year-old goes and pulls something like this.
All bets may be off in the worldwide hunt to sign the French star after he posted a bewildering image of himself dressed "in black face"as an NBA All Star.
The image, which was posted with a caption "80s Party" to his Instagram and Twitter accounts on Monday morning (AEDT), missed the mark by some way and the Barcelona and Manchester United-linked star is now copping criticism from around the world.
The star also reportedly posted a terribly insensitive video of himself in the NBA All Star costume.
Former England international Stan Collymore also took to Twitter to comment on Griezmann's photo.
"When it's party season and footballers, journalists and bookies just say "f*** it, we'll decide if black face is offensive," he wrote on his Twitter account.
American sports blog Deadspin labelled Griezmann's post "egregiously racist".
"Antoine Griezmann is one of the best soccer players in the world, starring for Atletico Madrid and consistently drawing interest from all the world's juggernaut clubs," reporter Lauren Theisen wrote.
"But wow, he really f***ed up when deciding on a costume for an "80s party".
"Putting aside the fact that "NBA All-Star" feels like a pretty lame, off-theme pick — oh my god. I don't think I've ever seen a bigger star pull something this egregiously racist. I mean, this isn't even just blackface. It's his whole damn body.
The shocking photo comes as a bombshell report linked Griezmann with a blockbuster move to Spanish rivals Barcelona.
Antoine Griezmann. Photo / Getty
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has met with Griezmann's family ahead of a possible summer move, sports daily Mundo Deportivo reported on Monday.
The French international, who has been Atletico's top scorer for the past three seasons, has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United in the past.
However, Barca appear willing to meet his 100 million euro (NZ$167 million) buyout clause as they seek to again unite Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez with a prolific attacker following the departure of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain in August for a world record 222 million euros.
"Barca settled on Griezmann as an objective for 2018 and they spoke with his entourage to see if he was willing to wear the blue and red shirt," reported Barcelona-based Mundo Deportivo.
"After receiving a 'yes' in response, an agreement was reached with the French goalscorer involving Pep Segura, Barca's general manager, and Robert Fernandez, the director of football.
"President Josep Maria Bartomeu has now entered to finalise the operation." the newspaper reported adding that "Bartomeu met recently with Griezmann's family to eat in Barcelona." Griezmann, 26, agreed to sign a new contract with Atletico in June after the club had an appeal against a transfer ban rejected.
The top scorer at Euro 2016, Griezmann said it would have been "dirty" to walk out on the club when they couldn't replace him until January.
However, Atletico coach Diego Simeone accepted this week that Griezmann's departure is inevitable.
