Transfer Talk: Barcelona ready to end dispute over Antoine Griezmann’s future with Atletico Madrid
Julien Laurens explains why Antoine Griezmann is yet to start for Atletico Madrid in LaLiga this season. (2:21)
The summer transfer window is closed for the major leagues in Europe. However, with an eye on January, there’s plenty of gossip swirling about who’s moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
Barcelona are pushing to end their dispute with Atletico Madrid over the loan of Antoine Griezmann, and they are willing to settle the issue for a €25 million fee, according to Mundo Deportivo.
In the summer of 2021, Griezmann joined Atletico on a loan that is due to end upon this season’s culmination. But there is the looming possibility that the courts could get involved when that time comes, although Barcelona want to find an amicable solution instead.
Barca’s current position is that Atletico have triggered the contract clause to make Griezmann’s loan a permanent transfer because he exceeded 50% of games played while with Madrid. However, Atletico argue that the 50% threshold applies across the two years of the loan.
Barcelona want to recoup some of the money they spent to sign Griezmann, while Atletico manager Diego Simeone wants to be able to use the attacker freely without concerns around triggering the €40m clause. Up until last week’s Madrid derby where Griezmann started, Simeone has only fielded the Frenchman for 30 minutes or less as a substitute.
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While there has been no direct contact, per the report, Barca want to negotiate, and despite the disputed contract clause’s price, they are willing to accept a minimum of €25m, which is €15m less than they were asking. In addition, Barcelona are seeking to find a solution before the first weekend in January, so that this doesn’t interfere with the match played between the two clubs.
Griezmann may not be privy to all of the intricacies of the negotiations, but is said to hope this will be sorted quickly so he can help Atletico without the restrictions imposed by the clause — especially as he’ll need as many minutes as possible ahead of the World Cup.
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